Emotions and expectations were high in June 1987 when representatives of three Lutheran women’s groups convened in Milwaukee under the theme "Embrace God’s World." Their challenge was to cap months, even years, of work by constituting a new organization — linking themselves as one in body and spirit under a new banner: Women of the ELCA.

Hearts stirred and laughter rippled when the Rev. Barbara Lundblad, speaking at the opening service of the convention, described the fledgling organization with a quotation from Gerhard Frost's book Blessed is the Ordinary: "Do you know why mountain climbers are tied together? — To keep the sane ones from going home!"

What better description of the communities of women gathered then and there to embrace each other and God’s world so that they might live out their calling as faithful disciples. They knew their work was cut out for them and they knew it wouldn’t be easy. They also knew they were in it together for the long haul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit who had brought them this far by faith.