Introduction
In the 2005–2008 Triennium, the multidimensional work of Women of the ELCA supports a theme, Act Boldly, and an initiative, Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls. Both the theme and the initiative grow out of the organization's mission to "mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ." Here are just a few of the many exciting ministries happening in Women of the ELCA.

Grants
To more deliberately incorporate our focus on women's health, grants in this triennium focus on programs incorporating emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Grants to domestic ministries totaled $87,000. Ministries in 13 countries were awarded grants this year totaling $20,000.

Stewardship
The 2006–2007 Stewardship Planning Guide focuses on acting boldly in community. The popular monthly and seasonal devotions, Bible study, and Thankoffering service all support the focus.

Global education
In partnership with ELCA Global Mission, 15 women of the ELCA from the Southwest California, Northwestern and Northeastern Minnesota, South Central Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Southeastern synods will travel to India accompanied by six women representing companion churches to these six synods as the 2007 Global Education and Advocacy Seminar. In partnership with Lutheran World Federation, two trips to Tanzania will occur in January 2007; these trips highlight the fairly traded coffee industry and the distribution and use of parish relief projects.

Scholarships
Earlier this year, Women of the ELCA awarded 42 scholarships totaling $48,350. Every region had at least two recipients. The Chilstrom (Ordination) Scholarship had six recipients (the most in our history). The Amelia Kemp scholarship for women of color had five recipients (again, the most in our history.)

Health initiative
Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls is the health initiative introduced in 2005 at the Sixth Triennial Gathering. The initiative focuses on women's health, particularly heart attack and stroke, and addresses health from a variety of perspectives that we hope enables the organization to make a collective difference. Two health-focused, churchwide–sponsored events took place September 29–October 1, 2006 in Chicago, and October 27–29 in Greensboro, N.C. These events bolstered health awareness, empowered women to take control of their own health, and taught women to educate other women about health issues. This event is designed to be replicated by participants so that they can host their own health event. Several health resources are in various stages of development and production. Materials from the health event will be available on the Women of the ELCA Web site (www.womenoftheelca.org) by the end of the year.

Café
In July Café, the e-zine published for women 18–35, changed its URL to boldcafe.org  Café also began podcasting its issues in July. This gives Café a distinct home on the Web, ties it more closely to the mission statement of Women of the ELCA, and simply provides a shorter, more precise URL. Café doubled the number of its e-mail alert subscribers following an exciting time at the ELCA National Youth Gathering this past summer.

Lutheran Woman Today
The September 2006 issue of Lutheran Woman Today magazine brought its readers a new column on prayer, "Let Us Pray," written by well-known author Debra K. Farrington. All the regular columns were given a fresh graphic look, with newly commissioned iconic illustrations at the head of each one. Readers are currently engaged in Hope in God in Times of Suffering, a nine-month Bible study written by Terry and Faith Fretheim.

Active units
An active unit assessment has been conducted, preliminary to determining delegate counts for the 7th Triennial Convention. The organization has active units in nearly 7,000 congregations and in eight other ministry settings.

Supporting elected leaders
The monthly leadership newsletter, Interchange, continues to provide the most frequent support for all leaders in all expressions of the organization. The executive director and select staff conduct conference calls with synodical presidents twice annually, following church executive board meetings, as a means of supporting these officers. Operations and stewardship staff conduct conference calls with synodical treasurers twice annually for the same purpose. Staff are busy assisting in the preparations for the annual Conference of Synodical Presidents, to be held in February 2007 in Salt Lake City.

Coming up
On three weekends in 2007, in five locations across the country, Lutheran women are invited to come together to Act Boldly, a day and one-half event that helps one find her bold and discover ways to put it into action. Act Boldly opens Friday evening with a bold banquet that celebrates community. On Saturday bold stories will be told by the bold women who have lived them. Using a workbook created just for these events, participants will discover ways to put one's bold into action. Participants leave Saturday evening knowing how to mobilize other women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Act Boldly takes place April 27–29, 2007, in Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas; May 18–19, 2007, in Renton, Wash., and Sioux Falls, S.D.; and September 28–29, 2007, in Omaha, Nebr.

The first Bold Women's Day will be observed and celebrated on the fourth Sunday in February, February 25, 2007, giving women in the church a way to honor the women and girls who are acting boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Some congregational units are using this day as a kick-off to celebrating the 20th anniversary of Women of the ELCA in 2007.