wfn.org | ELCA Youth Organization Connects With Young People In The Pew

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 5, 1999

ELCA YOUTH ORGANIZATION CONNECTS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PEW
99-53-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Lutheran Youth Organization
(LYO) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed
leadership development as it "affects work with and by youth and the
adults who journey with them" when it met here Feb. 26-28.  Joining them
in this discussion were members of the ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries (DCM) board, also meeting here Feb. 26-28.
     The LYO board worked on a plan to restructure the youth
organization that will help "carry out its vision of connecting with
young people in the church pew."  The LYO board shared its plans with
the DCM board.  LYO is housed in DCM.
     "This is the direction we need to move in to become more effective
in our ministry of serving young people," said Rebecca D. Lawrence,
Chicago, LYO president.
     The new plan calls for the board to provide leadership training
and resources and to strengthen its communication with youth and young
people of the ELCA.
     "Members of the LYO board are working to develop a format that
allows for the opportunity for all to speak," said Lawrence.
     The new plan will also "impact" the ELCA Council of Synod Lutheran
Youth Organization Presidents (CSLYOPs), said the Rev. Kelly Chatman,
ELCA director for youth ministries and LYO, Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     The LYO board will act as a "resource" to the CSLYOPs, said
Lawrence.  The council will act as the liaison between the LYO board and
the ELCA's 65 synod LYOs.
     LYO holds its triennial convention in conjunction with the ELCA
Youth Gathering -- a gathering that brings together thousands of high-
school-aged Lutherans from across the United States and Caribbean, as
well as from other countries around the world.  About 500 delegates
conduct the business of the ELCA's youth organization.  Up to eight
voting delegates are selected by each of the ELCA's 65 synod LYOs.
     The LYO Convention will take place July 2-5, 2000, in St. Louis.
The ELCA Youth Gathering will take place June 28-July 2 and July 5-9 in
St. Louis.  The Gathering will bring together 45,000 high-school aged
people under the theme "Dancing at the Crossroads."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html