Women Department. Mbulu Diocese, Tanzania

Earlier this year the SEMI WELCA Board designated $1,000.00 to be used to sponsor a woman from the Mbulu Diocese's visit to Michigan.  As no women visitor came to Michigan, the Board voted to send these funds to the Women Department of the Mbulu Diocese to be used where they were most needed.

In an October, 17, 2016 letter to former President Angelique Day, Magdalena Mathayo, Secretary of the Women Department wrote:  "I would like you to know about our building (Women Centre), for two years it uses for meetings, seminars and workshops.  The remaining work for accomplishment of our centre...includes floor, furniture and kitchen equipment...Also we still struggle with our car, which has problems for three years now...we would be very happy to receive support from donors and friends in Jesus Christ for accomplishment of Women Centre and car adjustment...We ask you to pray for us; we pray for you, this will connect us to be one in Christ..."

Hopefully the monies we were able to send will assist the women of the Mbulu Diocese in reaching their goals.  Please continue to remember them and their needs in your prayers.  If you or your congregational WELCA unit would like to make a donation to the women of the Mbulu Diocese, please send it to me with a note designating for this purpose.  Thank you.

                                                                        Peggy Nelson, Treasurer, SEMI WELCA

Curious about the status of the anti-bullying legislation SEMI WELCA has been working to get passed?

House Bill 5619 passed the Michigan House June 2, 2016, and was sent to the Michigan Senate the same day.  it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee June 7, 2016.  On October 18, 2016, the Judiciary Committee reported back favorably on it without amendment, recommended immediate effect, and referred it to the Committee of the whole.  Hopefully the Michigan Senate will soon vote on the bill.  (Senate Bill 405)

To check the status of the legislation, just use the link below.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yackxi0xdkz1ve1pozcx1w20))/mileg.aspx?page=BillStatus&objectname=2016-HB-5619

Please urge your state senator to support this legislation.  Thanks.

                                                                        Peggy Nelson, Treasurer, SEMI WELCA

As you know (if you've been reading the LOOM or attended the SEMI WELCA convention), the WELCA Board of the Greater Milwaukee Synod generously collected and donated funds to us for use in relieving the effects of the Flint water crisis.  As of November 21, 2016, these donations totaled $2,257.88. 

At our November, 2016, meeting the Board voted to forward these funds to Salem Lutheran Church in Flint.  The congregation and its pastor, Monica Villarreal, have worked tirelessly on this mission.  In the past year, they have distributed over 1.5 million pounds of water to families affected by the lead tainted water in the Flint system.  They have also worked to increase the use of water filters in homes surrounding the church.

In a recent message to the congregation of Holy Trinity, Pastor Monica wrote:  "...this has been an incredibly challenging year for the people of Flint.  Out trials, tribulations, and temptation to be stuck in anger and sadness over the Flint Water Crisis has transformed our lives of faith to be a people who show Gods enduring and everlasting love...Having access to safe, clean water, along with nutritional supports, mental health care and spiritual care will help Flint move forward...We cannot thank you all enough for making such a difference in the lives of so many in Flint.  Our children will not be remembered as the children who were poisoned, rather as children who survived and thrived because of the care and compassion of the faithful."

If you or your congregational WELCA unit would like to make a donation towards Flint water relief efforts, please send it to me with a note designating for this purpose.  Thank you.

Peggy Nelson, Treasurer, SEMI WELCA

At the October 14, 2014 SEMI WELCA Convention, the delegates passed the following resolution against gun violence:

Southeastern Michigan Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Resolution against Gun Violence

Whereas, the problem of gun violence has reached epidemic proportions in Southeast Michigan and throughout the State of Michigan and the rest of the United States with no solution currently apparent; and

Whereas, we, the women of SEMI WELCA, have the will to fight the pernicious effects of gun violence in our neighborhoods, our state and our nation; and have received from God the power, the ability, and the resolution to commit our voices, our resources and our service to combatting gun violence; and

Whereas, we, the women of SEMI WELCA, have committed ourselves to promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world; be it

Resolved, that we, the women of SEMI WELCA, will unite in a prayerful campaign to put an end to gun violence; and be it

Resolved, that we, the women of SEMI WELCA, will educate ourselves as to the causes and effects of gun violence and will explore any and all means of preventing future gun violence and be it

Resolved, that we, the women of SEMI WELCA, will unite:

• to ensure that all congregations within our Synod work to educate themselves on the causes and effects of gun violence, and on any and all means of preventing future gun violence;
• to propose and support local, state-wide and national efforts to limit and control the effects of gun violence; 
• to propose and support local, state-wide and national legislation to limit and control the effects of gun violence; 
• to publicly speak out against gun violence and in favor of legislative and other efforts to limit and control the effects of gun violence; and
• to support these efforts with our prayers, our financial resources and our God-given spiritual gifts.

As a way of educating ourselves on the gun laws in Michigan, I'd like to share the following information with you.  I hope it will be of interest and of use to you. Michigan State Gun Law Background.  

Among other things, Michigan:

• Requires a handgun purchaser buying from a private seller to have completed a background check pursuant to a handgun purchase permit or a concealed handgun license;
• Requires the reporting of handgun purchases to law enforcement; and
• Requires firearm owners to report the theft (but not the loss) of any firearm.

Michigan does not, however:

• Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines;
• Impose licensing or background check requirements on long gun purchasers;
• Require firearms dealers to obtain a state license;
• Impose a waiting period prior to the physical transfer of a firearm;
• Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time;
• Regulate unsafe handguns;
• Allow local governments to regulate firearms; or
• Allow law enforcement discretion to deny a concealed handgun license.

In 2013, Michigan ranked 22nd among the states in the number of gun deaths per capita. In 2013, 1,190 people died from firearm-related injuries in Michigan. In 2009, Michigan supplied the ninth lowest number of crime guns to other states per capita, and the state imports more crime guns than it exports.

You can learn more about gun laws by visiting: www.gunlawscorecard.org or Smartgunlaws.org

Peggy Nelson, Treasurer, SEMI WELCA