May 7, 2009
by Frank Imhoff

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering a cross-cultural immersion experience Sept. 9-13 with the Chippewa Cree Tribe at the Rocky Boy Reservation in the Bear Paw Mountains near Box Elder, Mont. The program is limited to 13 participants, and registration is open until Aug. 7.

Inez Torres Davis, Women of the ELCA director for justice, will conduct the immersion. "The gift of a cross-cultural immersion is one that will inform a woman as well as alter her life. Women are invited to open their hearts, ears and hands so that they might see the world in a different way, sometimes for the first time," she said.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation, and its pastor, the Rev. Linda E. Webster, will host the experience. The congregation's facilities include a chapel, parish house and several cabins. Participants will learn about the culture of the Chippewa Cree and the American Indian struggle for survival and sovereignty. They will visit such sites as a buffalo jump, a cultural museum and a battlefield.

LINKS

Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Women-of-the-ELCA.aspx.

Cross-cultural immersion experience: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Women-of-the-ELCA/Engage-in-action-and-support-one-another-in-our-callings/Cross-cultural-programming.aspx.

Rocky Boy Reservation: http://www.rockyboy.org/.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church: http://www.oslcrb.org/,

ELCA News Service