ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 10, 2007
ELCA Assembly Greeted by Lutheran Youth Organization 07-CWA-036-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The high-school-age members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly together can transform the ELCA into something relevant and meaningful to all of God's people. That was the message from the president and vice president of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) to the assembly Aug. 10.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,069 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
On behalf of the LYO, Nathanial Viets-VanLear, LYO president, and Walter M.L. Hampton II, LYO vice president, delivered greetings to the assembly.
The 22-member board of the LYO serves hundreds of thousands of ELCA members between the ages of 14 and 18, said Hampton. "The LYO is about leadership development for today's youth for the church and the greater world. It's also about advocating for the inclusion of young people in the whole church, ensuring that the decisions discussed in the church are relevant to its youth," he said.
"We have a great team. Every single person on the board is passionate about the work and giving it their all. This is something not limited to the youth on our board, but it's normal for the youth of our generation everywhere. We see passion in LYO conventions, where we pass resolutions (ranging) from recycling to the conflict in Darfur. At the (2006 ELCA) Youth Gathering in San Antonio, (about) 40,000 youth came together to celebrate their faith," said Hampton.
In 2006 the LYO board "recognized the power of Scripture and prayer in its work" and felt the need to create something that expresses that power, said Viets-VanLear. Through the "4-24 Campaign" -- based on Acts 4:24 -- members of the LYO will pray, everyday, at 4:24 p.m. "We hope that the campaign will spread throughout the church," he said. Participants of the 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering prayed at 4:24 p.m. everyday of the event.
Hampton and Viets-VanLear told the assembly that the LYO is undergoing a self-evaluation process to examine its structure "to enable the best youth ministry possible. This is a pretty big deal for us."
"We know the values of networking, and we're here to do just that. The LYO and churchwide assembly should have a stronger partnership. We, the board, are devoted to working" across generations in the ELCA, said Viets-VanLear. "It shouldn't be young and adults, just Lutherans working together within the church."
"We have something new and unique to offer to you from a youth perspective that would add to the wisdom and experience you already carry. Together, we can utilize our gifts and your gifts to transform the church into something relevant and meaningful to all of God's people. Give us a chance, take a risk, and we just might surprise you. Plus, I think we make things so much more fun," said Viets-VanLear. - - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news