History of QAThe first QA set the standard for a special kind of meeting and each of the 14 events which followed it has been called "the best one yet."

QA has been a time of "firsts" for many women: In 1957 it was the first time for many to hear a woman preacher

For other women, QA has offered: the first time to see liturgical dancing, the first time to sing with thousands of other women, the first time to hear domestic violence addressed in a faith

setting, the first time to meet and talk with women from another

culture/country the first time to be involved in a peace/justice walk

These and many other "firsts" have given excitement and vibrancy to the QA experience.

History of QAFrom 1957 through 2006, QA paid for itself and also for the work of the Disciples Women, its Cabinet and Executive Committee expenses, and the beginning of such programs as Woman to Woman Worldwide, the Women's Action Web, etc.

QA has created a space in which many women have heard a call to ministry, explored the cutting edge of theology, and awakened to new concepts of social justice. 

Women have stretched their minds and spirits and opened themselves to

new information, new training, new wisdom and new risks. 

This creative change has helped transform life and worship in congregations, regions and general ministries as women have so often led the way after their lives have been called and empowered to lead the way at the Quadrennial Assembly.

QA 2014 Brought Change to Atlanta

More than 350 women marched in the streets to demonstrate against human trafficking. The Walk Against Trafficking raised just over $6,400 for 

youthSpark, an Atlanta organization that works against human trafficking

The Masks for a Cause had 37 entries and raised over $1,000 for the Wellspring Living Program that provides trauma therapy to women who have been sexually abused. 

City of Refuge mission: 400+ books, 650 pieces of underwear, 550 pairs of socks, 840 hygiene items were taken to the women and children

2,200 pairs of eyeglasses were donated to the Lions Club Blessing Box offerings: $ 9,363 DW offerings: $12,431 DWEF offerings: $11,589

QA 2014 Brought Change to Atlanta

Continued emphasis on human trafficking announced: Breaking the Chains: Link by Link that will be populated with resources on three areas: sex trafficking, labor/immigration trafficking and demand

Nearly half of the women visited the Martin Luther King Jr. History Center  on guided tours

80 workshops: on ministry tips to self-care to global concerns to autism

Global Ministries had frequent talks in the exhibit hall by mission partners and a large contingent of visitors from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Minnie Vautrin, an Illinois Disciple who taught in China in the early 20th century, was remembered and honored for her protection of 250,000 Chinese on the grounds of Gingling College during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing in 1937.

QA 2014 Brought Change to Atlanta

More than 300 gathered at First Congregational Church (UCC) to remember the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, signed into law on July 2, 1964.

Mary Frances Early, the first AA graduate student of the University of GA (1962) and Joan C. Browning, a freedom rider (1961) were both on hand to tell their first-person stories of the time leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Fun in plenary sessions and worship as well as shopping in the exhibit hall from outside vendors as well as the Bizarre Bazaar featuring Disciples women

Conversations with a new group of friends at every meal National Benevolent Association hosted an ice cream social Movies and games were available for aftersessions and morning exercise as

well. Morning plenary sessions featured a focus on a biblical woman with a telling

of her story and then a reflection ("unpacking") of the story by scholars followed by a "modern day story" and a time to reflect in small groups.

Evening and Sunday worship had a series of dynamic speakers from the general expression of church as well as global and congregational perspectives. 

GA AttendanceYear Location Attendance

2013 Orlando 4000

2011 Nashville 4745

2009 Indianapolis 5800

2007 Fort Worth 6800

2005 Portland 5600

2003 Charlotte 5723

Decrease 2007 to 2013 41.18%

Decrease 2009 to 2013 31.03%

QA AttendanceYear Location Attendance

2014 Atlanta 1215

2010 Greensboro 1887

Mix in 2006 Indianapolis 3022*

2002 Louisville 3159

1998 Purdue 3545

Decrease 2002 to 2014 61.54%

Decrease 2010 to 2014 35.61%

ChallengesNational events are not being supported

as they have been in the past Changing culture GA decrease as well as QA Decrease in women’s events in other denominations

Many have stopped having national events.

Limited resources Women have to decide to attend QA or constituency

assembly Some are choosing national one-day events by well-

known speakers in enormous stadiums

ChallengesCost is obvious factor in numbers who register:

Registration, meals, travel To keep costs down needed to negotiate for meeting space

based on number of rooms committed to rather than separate cost

Committee searched for mid-country venue to even out cost of participants’ travel – selection delayed until new Executive Director was on board which left very few venues available

Negotiated from much higher cost of meal plan but given hotel prices was still more than we had hoped for

Concerned about cost of meals led us to hold registration at 2010 rate

Negotiated good price on rooms – because of requirement to pay for rooms in contract even if they were not used, had to be conservative so we used past history where there were 2 or 3 in each room

ResultsReduced number of registrations resulted

in a financial loss for QA. Funds came out of Disciples Women reserves.

Planning of a QA with costs of planning team and contracts always requires using some of the reserve which is then replaced by registrations. The Executive Committee has spent time in discernment

and recognizes that QA cannot continue as usual. Many ideas have been considered about what might be next and what our possibilities might be.

ConsiderationsEvaluations:

Strong desire to be under one roof Need for improved accessibility Dissatisfaction with 2010 venue resulted in a

commitment to location at airline hub Moved from Purdue because of sleeping conditions and

lack of air-conditioning

ConsiderationsContracts must be signed well in advance

For staging, lighting, trucking, sound, meals, catering, video, salaries, etc.

Costs remain the same whether 100 or 5000 attend

Built budget based on history of declining registration Based on history of registrations 2006:2190, 2010:1887,

estimated 2014:1500 Built budget and made plans with 1500 attendees in mind

(committee believed this to be conservative)

Initial surge in registrations caused concern if 1500 would be big enough…started making plans for alternate layout if registration continued at that rate Registration decreased even further than original planning by

1/3 of 2010

ConsiderationsWomen serving on planning team put in

many hours and still pay their own registration, meals, etc. at QA. Travel and room is covered for planning meetings

but not for event.

Constant struggle for staff to not be able to cover costs of those working such long hours but budget does not allow it.

Conclusion

We cannot continue to plan and offer QA in the same way

ThoughtsDecreasing attendance at national events

Question of fairness in asking team to pay their own way even though they are working much of the event

Costs prohibitive for some women regardless of how we cut costs…travel to venue can be enough to exclude some women

Energy and focus spent on planning this one event that might be otherwise directed at ongoing ministries

Highlighting a few of the plethora of gifted and inspired women

What if….?What if we increased the breadth of our

Interregional events? Leadership from local women Highlight gifts and graces of local preachers, singers,

teachers, workshop leaders, dancers, etc. Opportunity to build relationships in larger areas

offering possibilities for continued and improved work together toward common goals

Increased availability to a wider group of women when no long distance travel required

National staff support and participate but allows continued ministry in other areas as well plus increased relationships in each of interregional areas

Relationships built might result in more coop ventures in ministry

What if….?What if we looked toward QA in 2022 or

2024? Reserve funds would need to be built up Consideration of shorter event and paired down

schedule Opportunity to start from scratch to re-imagine/vision

QA Need an appropriate venue mid-country – continue

checking with colleges/universities/mega-churches Need to determine realistic registration expectations

How many would attend? What is a reasonable registration fee?

What if….?Other ideas?