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
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