Report of the Executive Director, Women of the ELCA
Summary of Unit Activities, February 2005

While the ongoing ministries of Women of the ELCA continue, supporting the mission of the organization (mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ), currently the triennial gathering and convention are top priorities. Below you will find a summary of the gathering and convention. For more information on these two events or any ministries of the women's organization, visit www.womenoftheelca.org or the site of its magazine, www.lutheranwomantoday.org

Sixth Triennial Gathering
Registration opened February 15, 2005, for this, the largest gathering of adult Lutherans in North America. At least 5,000 women are expected to register for the July 5–10 gathering being held in San Antonio, Texas. Highlights include

• Bible study on the "Act Boldly" theme led by Sarah Henrich, associate professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Barbara Ehrenreich, activist, journalist, and author best known for her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, as the keynote speaker.
• The Rev. Andrea Walker (St. John, Summit, New Jersey) preaching at the opening Service of Holy Communion and the Rev. Melanie McRae (a spiritual director and hospice/hospital chaplain in the Twin Cities) preaching at the closing Service of Holy Communion.
• The Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first woman bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as preacher at the Thursday evening Thankoffering service.
• Eighteen servant events, taking women out into San Antonio for service and aid, coupled with a collection of in-kind gifts for local agencies.
• Scholarships bringing at least 22 young women (ages 18–35) to the gathering.
• Introduction to the 2005–2006 Bible study on the fruit of the Holy Spirit (taken from Galatians), led by the Rev. Susan Gamelin (Emmanuel, High Point, North Carolina).
• New resources, including a new worship book, a pin created by Designs by Lucinda (made famous by the "house pins") exclusively for Women of the ELCA, and five fairly traded items created exclusively for Women of the ELCA in conjunction with Lutheran World Relief and SERRV.
• Learning opportunities that include hour-long workshops as well as multi-hour miniversities that explore topics in greater depth.
• Observance of the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Lutheran tradition and the 60th anniversary of Lutheran World Relief.
• International guests from Liberia, India, Columbia, Poland, and other locations.

Sixth Triennial Convention
The highest legislative authority of the women's organization, the triennial convention will convene during the gathering with more than 450 delegates elected by the 64 synodical women's organizations. Among the business before the delegates will be the election of officers and the churchwide Women of the ELCA board for the 2005-2008 triennium and the approval of a churchwide women's organization budget for 2006.

The delegates will also consider memorials from the synodical women's organizations. Twenty-one synodical organizations have asked delegates to consider a partnership relationship between Women of the ELCA and Adults Saving Kids (ASK), an organization seeking to end commercial sexual exploitation. Other memorials address support for immigrants, denouncing ageism, and efforts to end world hunger, to name a few.