That helped the partnership but it also helped us come as close to the truth as we could get. Representational principles and affirmative action policies have helped ensure that women are in positions they didn't hold before. A look at institutions, agencies, congregations and boards across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America reveals much progress in h ow men and women work together in leadership. But most of those interviewed also said they knew of many situations where nothing had changed in the last 30 years or where confrontation and power plays were the order of the day. Clearly, we have more to learn and mor e work to do even while we celebrate the good models of partnership.
People hold one another accountable to the constitution.
The number of women faculty at ELCA seminaries has gone from zero in 1970 to about 15 percent to 20 percent today, says Phyllis Anderson, ELCA director for theological education. But in other cases they're dealing with old theological traditions. Roger Fjeld, president of Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, sees progress. And previously in our searches for faculty, we had to intentionally recommend women candidates. We don't have to do that anymore.