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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 28, 2003

ELCA Youth Discuss Topics Important To Them
03-149-MR/JC*

     ATLANTA (ELCA) -- Human sexuality and ethnic diversity were
among a variety of topics addressed by some 255 high-school-age
Lutherans at the Sixth Triennial Convention of the Lutheran Youth
Organization (LYO) here July 20-23 at Georgia Institute of
Technology.  The LYO is the youth organization of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Chicago.
     Under the convention theme, "N-2-1:  Joining in Weakness, We
are Strong," delegates -- Lutherans between the ages of 15 and 18
or who are in grades 10 through 12 -- from the 65 synods of the
church conducted the business of the LYO.  The organization
represents 500,000 young Lutherans from across the country, U.S.
Virgin Islands and Caribbean.  The organization's board provides
a link between young people and churchwide units, bringing youth
representation to traditionally adult-led boards and groups.
     Business sessions, led by the board of LYO, included the
election of officers, action on resolutions submitted by
delegates representing synods and congregations of the ELCA, and
reception of reports from the board and its three advisory
committees -- Multicultural Advisory Committee, Definitely Abled
Advisory Committee and Council of Synod LYO Presidents.  Other
highlights of the convention included a keynote presentation,
workshops, music and worship.
     The LYO held its triennial convention in conjunction with
the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering -- held in two back-to-back events
July 16-23 and July 23-27 -- at the Georgia Dome and Georgia
World Congress Center.

ELECTIONS
     Maren Hulden was elected LYO president on the third ballot
July 22.  Hulden, 17, has just completed her first year at the
University of Chicago and is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church,
Moorhead, Minn.
     "I'm elated," Hulden told the ELCA News Service after her
election.  "I'm looking forward to the next three years.  It's
going to be awesome."
     Kwau Kuntu III, Calumet City, Ill., was elected vice
president; Penny Kelly, Viborg, S.D., secretary; Sean Allen,
Spokane, Wa., Region One delegate-at-large; Mara Brosy, Reno,
Nev., Region Two delegate-at-large; Tyler Hauger, Bismarch, N.D.,
Region Three delegate-at-large; Sara Humphrey, Tusla, Okla.,
Region Four delegate-at-large; Hannah Wallisch, Waupun, Wis.,
delegate-at-large; Rachel Meade, Lake Odessa, Mich., Region Six
delegate-at-large; Nathaniel Preisinger, Scotia, N.Y., Region
Seven delegate-at-large; Courtney Zimmerman, Navron, Pa., Region
Eight delegate-at-large; and Megan Quarles, Columbia, S.C.,
Region Nine delegate-at-large.
     The ELCA has 65 synods in nine regions in the United States,
U.S. Virgin Islands and Caribbean.

RESOLUTIONS
     Delegates passed resolutions on a variety of topics,
including human sexuality.  At the convention, youth discussed
education about human sexuality in the church, the blessing of
same-gender unions, and the welcoming of people of all sexual
orientations into the organization.
     Delegates called for the LYO board to advocate for the
development of educational programs promoting disability
awareness and urged congregations and synods of the ELCA to hold
events in facilities that meet the needs of definitely-abled
participants.
     Resolutions passed at the sixth triennial convention call
for LYO members to:
     + encourage discussion on the topic of human sexuality in
confirmation classes and at synod-led youth events.
     Delegates also adopted a resolution supporting the blessing
of "same-sex unions" and the ordination of "non-celibate
individuals" of "all sexual orientations" in "committed
relationships."
     In a separate resolution, delegates moved to welcome people
of all sexual orientations, encouraging youth of all sexual
orientations to share in the life of the organization.	They also
voted to seek formal recognition as a "Reconciling in Christ"
organization.
     + support congregations, synods, the ELCA churchwide office
and institutions to continue their awareness of the needs of
individuals with disabilities, advocate for definitely-abled
individuals to serve on synod councils, develop educational
programs that promote disability awareness and support for events
to be held in facilities that meet the needs of people with
disabilities.
     + encourage synods to hold Lutheran youth gatherings in the
ELCA's nine regions, 65 synods and 10,716 congregations.  The
resolution also called for the LYO board to develop resources to
aid in event planning and execution.
     + invite a youth representative from the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) Program Committee for Youth
Ministry to serve as a "liaison" to the LYO board.  The
resolution also calls for the LYO board to elect a member from
its board to serve as a liaison to the ELCIC Program Committee
for Youth Ministry.
     + call for the LYO board, in conjunction with its
Multicultural Advisory Committee, to develop resources for
multicultural youth ministry.
     Delegates adopted a resolution that calls for the 2003-2006
LYO board to work with ELCA churchwide units to make the Youth
Gathering a more inclusive event.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
     "When God calls you, God knows all the stuff no one else
knows about you.  To me, that's good news. And, that's what I
love about God.  I can come to God with my heart broken and tears
running down my cheek.	There's no one in your life that will
love you like that," the Rev. Sean McMillan, Shekinah Chapel,
Chicago, told delegates.
     McMillan, who delivered the keynote presentation, talked
about "leadership from behind the scenes."
     "Leadership is not about impressing people," McMillan said.
"Leadership is about when I am able to love myself and impress
myself.  You have to be yourself.  When you know the truth about
yourself . that's when you become a leader."
     "God came to us because we were broken, not because we were
perfect," he said.  "God extended love to us.  Perfection is not
part of the deal because, if it were, no one would be in this
room.  Love brought you to Atlanta," said McMillan.

WORKSHOPS
     The convention featured more than 25 workshops on topics
ranging from the church and homosexuality to HIV/AIDS and hunger
in Africa, from politics to war and human rights.  Monica Fisk,
youth coordinator, Lutheran Peace Fellowship led a workshop
called, "War, Human Rights and Justice."  In an interview, Fisk
said she hopes young people "think more deeply about war from a
moral, faith-based perspective."

COMMUNITY TIME
     At the July 22 business session Leota Thomas-Breitfeld, St.
Paul, Minn., LYO president, informed delegates about a "racist"
remark allegedly made by a member of the LYO delegation.
Breitfeld said the remark was heard by several other delegates
seated nearby.
     She called for a "community lock down," asking adult
counselors and advisors to account for delegates and instructed
all to remain in the room until the delegate who made the remark
came forth.  Members of the convention prayed together, shared
personal reflections and encouraged the delegate who made the
remark to come forward.
     Breitfeld told the convention that "this is a community
problem" that must be dealt with together.  She reminded
delegates that the LYO is an "inclusive" organization committed
to diversity.
     In an interview with the ELCA News Service, Jon L. Vehar,
Albuquerque, N.M., LYO vice president, said, "The significance of
the LYO convention was that we took a comment made by one member,
hurtful to the community, and dealt with it as a community.  As a
result of the process and as an organization that gathers in the
name of Christ, it became an incredible learning experience for
all involved."
     Delegates remained in their seats for more than hour before
recessing for the evening.  The delegate who allegedly made the
remark did not come forth.  A dance scheduled for the evening was
cancelled.

*Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree
at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.  She is an intern this
summer with ELCA News and Media Production.

Information about the 2003 ELCA Youth Gathering is
maintained at http://www.elca.org/gathering/home.html on the
Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news