What is the Future of Theta
Alpha International?
A Proposal
Dear Members of Theta Alpha:
Theta Alpha has been in existence since 1904 – nearly 110 years! This
is a wonderful achievement of which we can be proud. During this time it
has flourished, supporting New Church education both in the Academy and
around the world in many forms and uses.
At our October 2013 annual meeting on Charter Day, attended by
approximately 140 members, concerns for the future of the organization were
presented. This letter is to inform you of these concerns and of the proposal for
Theta Alpha’s future. Among the concerns are:
• The sharp decline in membership
• The increasing age of members
• The lack of a president, vice president, Journal editor, and three
members at-large, and our inability to find women to fill these key
leadership positions
• The number of women who are working today, with no time to
volunteer to serve on committees
• Former major uses of Theta Alpha (for example, the religion lessons that
were sent out to isolated members) have been taken over by other New
Church organizations
• The major changes in technology/communication that enable women to
connect around the world through social networking
• The ability of families to access and download instantly, through New
Church Vineyard, wonderful sermons, children’s talks and projects to
educate themselves and their children in the doctrines of the Church
We believe women still strongly support the idea of New Church
education, the principal use of Theta Alpha International, but life has changed
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