ELCA NEWS SERVICE June 18, 2008 Salt Lake City to Host Women of the ELCA Gathering and Convention 08-13-LT* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Seventh Triennial Gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will bring together approximately 1,900 women July 10-13 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City. The event theme, "Come to the Waters," focuses on the celebration of Baptism through Bible study, speakers, community, service and worship. The Seventh Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA, July 8-10, will precede the gathering. The convention, the chief deliberative body of Women of the ELCA, will elect a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and 17 women to the churchwide executive board. It will act on various proposed initiatives and resolutions. Joan Chittister, O.S.B., co-chair, Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW), New York, will deliver the gathering's July 11 keynote address. She has written 35 books with such topics as peace, justice, human rights, women, contemporary religious life and spirituality. She holds a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia. The Rev. Marysol Diaz, St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Marcos), Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, will lead a "Thankoffering Service" on July 11; the Rev. Karen Bockelman, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod, Duluth, will lead a July 11 Bible study; the Rev. Heidi Neumark, Trinity Lutheran Church of Manhattan, New York, will preach during a July 12 worship service; and the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, bishop, ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod, Cuyahoga Falls, will lead the gathering's closing worship. The gathering will offer more than 20 workshops on July 11 and 12. Workshop topics include "Anti-racism: all we need is love," "Women building global community" and "Raising up healthy women and girls." Two workshops will be offered for girls ages 13 to 18. "From child of God to woman of God" will feature how to be a "woman of God." "Bold girls: Why would you wannabe?" will be a discussion of "bold girls in the Bible." Women of the ELCA has organized a July 12 four-kilometer run/walk/roll event promoting its health initiative, Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls. The organization has encouraged members to collect pledges. The organization is utilizing "commemorative communion ware" -- chalices and patens -- that will be used for the Lord's Supper at the gathering. Women of the ELCA will collect and distribute "in-kind gifts," which include items such as pre-paid phone cards, gift cards and health kits. The gifts are tangible items other than money and are offered to organizations and agencies in the Salt Lake City area. - - - Information about the Women of the ELCA Seventh Triennial Gathering is at http://womenoftheELCA.org/tg08/index.html on the Web. *Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News Service. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog