Nearly 2,000 Lutheran women from across the United States will be coming to Salt Lake City to participate in the Seventh Triennial Convention and Gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The convention will include Bible study, speakers, service and worship and is the largest gathering of Lutheran women of the ELCA. It will be held July 8-13 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

The convention, July 8-10, will include the election of the women's organization's board and approval of next year's budget. The gathering will follow the convention from July 10-13. The theme for the long-weekend women's gathering is "Come to the Waters."

"This weekend ... will teach, encourage and challenge you to a greater understanding of your faith and what it means to live it out as together we are called to act boldly on our faith in Jesus Christ," according to the convention's Web site.

The Rev. Annemarie Burke of Salt Lake City's Mount Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church will talk about being Lutheran in a predominantly Mormon environment. Other reverends and speakers will address the women with talks and workshops applicable to Lutheran women throughout the world. Topics include, "Anti-racism: all we need is love," "Women building global community" and "Raising up healthy women and girls."

Two workshops also will be offered for girls ages 13-18. These are titled, "From child of God to woman of God" and "Bold girls: why would you wannabe." Both workshops will focus on the changing needs of young women in the world today.

On Thursday, the convention will move to the Tabernacle at Temple Square, where the women will be able to spend the evening with the Tabernacle Choir. Saturday, the convention also will host a 4K run/walk/roll event to promote women's health.

The ELCA said it chose Salt Lake City for the convention because the city "combines the best of being a major city with Western small-town friendliness. The surrounding area offers an abundance of natural beauty and places of historical interest."