October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Download resources, a new litany and more

October 2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

More than one in three women and one in four men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).

On average, 20 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States—more than 10 million women and men a year, according to the NCADV.

If you or someone you know is a victim of Domestic Violence, help is available. Speak with someone today.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service

Hours: 24/7

Call: 800-799-7233

Text: BEGIN to 88788

Women of the ELCA blog

Take action against Domestic Violence in your church and community. Read "What can you do to end Domestic Violence?" from the Women of the ELCA blog, and Download A Litany for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Download A Litany for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

2026 Women of the ELCA Thankoffering Service is October 15

Have you wondered why we share Thankofferings and the difference they make? Learn more about having a Thankoffering Service in your congregation or with your women's group, and don't forget to watch the 2026 Thankoffering Service live on October 15 at 9:50 a.m. (CDT) that will be live-streamed from Concordia College Campus Ministry, Moorehead, Minn.

You can also download a copy of the service for your congregation: Download the 2026 Thankoffering Service available in English and Spanish.

Visit the Thankoffering Page

Boldcafe Dinner: Conversation with Kara Haug

Join us Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) for our next Boldcafe Monthly Dinner. Author and speaker Kara Haug will lead our conversation about healthy sexual relationships and consent. Join current WELCA Campus Ambassadors and invite others for this important conversation.

40th ANNIVERSARY TOUR: Women of the Early Church: Faith, Empire, Memory & Service in Greece and Turkey

MEJDI Tours is honored to partner with Women of the ELCA for a private journey through Greece and Turkey, September 14–25, 2027.

Save the date for the upcoming virtual information session to learn more!

Date: November 4, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

To Join: Zoom Registration

Women of the Early Church: Faith, Empire, Memory & Service in Greece and Turkey invites us to follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul while exploring the people, communities, and diverse narratives that shaped the early Christian Church. We will visit Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veria, and Ephesus—places where early Christianity took root and where the stories of women played an important role in its growth.

Racial Justice Advocacy Network Fourth Thursday Series

Please join us Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. (CDT) for the next Racial Justice Advocacy Network about tangible things you can do today to fight racism!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/75wT4DaWQ4qXEwmn6u-Ggw

New fall Bible Study in Gather by the Rev. Tiffany Chaney

Download the new fall Bible study, “Bold faith on an unexpected journey,” written by the Rev. Tiffany Chaney.

Faith often leads us down paths we didn’t expect—into wilderness places, across unfamiliar lands, and through seasons of grief and hope. This three-session study takes us on a journey with Hagar, Ruth and Mary Magdalene, women whose bold faith transformed their unexpected stories. Their encounters with God remind us that we, too, are seen, sustained and sent to carry good news into the world.

Session 3: Proclaiming resurrection in hope

Scripture: John 20:1–18

Mary Magdalene’s journey transitions from that of a grieving friend to the first preacher of the good news, after she shows up at the empty tomb and encounters the risen Jesus. Her story declares that women are entrusted to carry resurrection hope into a hurting world. This session encourages participants to recognize their own call to bear witness and to proclaim hope in Christ.