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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 6, 2000

ELCA YOUTH TAKE ON DIFFICULT ISSUES
00-YG15-MR

  EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- Capital punishment, ethnic diversity,
homosexuality, music, premarital sex and suicide were among dozens of
topics discussed by 350 high-school-age Lutherans here at the Fifth
Triennial Convention of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) July 2-5
at Southern Illinois University.
  LYO is the youth organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA).  Housed in the ELCA's Division for Congregational
Ministries, LYO represents more than 500,000 high-school-age people in
the 11,000 congregations of the ELCA in the United States and Caribbean.
About 350 delegates conduct the business of the church's youth
organization.  The LYO board -- made up of 12 elected leaders -- acts as
a "resource" and provides leadership training to the Council of Synod
LYO Presidents.  The council -- made up of 63 leaders -- serves as the
liaison between the LYO board and the ELCA's 65 synods.
  "What are your passions on your road trip of faith?" Jay McDivitt,
Loveland, Colo., president of the LYO board, asked participants.
"Anyone with a passion, please declare that passion.  This is a place to
talk about all passions.  Everyone is welcomed and encouraged."
  McDivitt led participants through a process called "open space
technology," a system to conduct meetings and conventions organized by
LYO.  Gathered in a large circle, participants identified important
issues or "passions" related to young people in church and society and
contributed ideas for small group discussions.  Information from small
groups was compiled into a report, which is considered for action,
strategy and implementation by the ELCA's synod LYOs.
  "There are four principles of open space," said McDivitt.
"Whoever enters open space are the right people.  The second principle
states that when open space begins, it begins.  When open space ends, it
ends.  The final principle of open space is that whatever happens in the
space is the only thing that could have happened."
  In addition to the four principles, there is the "gospel of
mobility," McDivitt told the young people.  "The gospel of mobility
states that if you are not learning or contributing in the space you are
in, you have the right to move to a space where you can."
  Other topics addressed included enhancing worship life for young
people, bridging the generation gap between young people and older
adults, and developing creative youth activities in church.
  About 18 young people attended a small discussion on teen suicide.
"The traditional warning signs for identifying a suicidal person are not
always accurate.  Many of my friends that have attempted suicide showed
no signs of depression and reclusiveness," said one participant.
Another young person said, "Prescribed medication can help people with
bipolar disorders, but more needs to be done to bring healing.
Accepting God and living a life of faith are equally important."
  "At the beginning of open space, I thought I was going to hate it.
But once in the space, everyone was supportive and positive.  We were
open to sharing our personal stories and experiences.  So, I decided to
convene my own small group to talk about loneliness," said Angie Wagner,
18, York, Pa.  Wagner will attend Messiah College, Grantham, Pa., this
fall.
  "Everyone here is a total stranger, but there has been no
awkwardness.  Everyone shares one common thing that binds us together --
the ability to make friends," Wagner said.
  Whitney Grimland, 15, Fort Worth, Texas, said he met at least 60
people at the LYO convention. "Meeting people is one of my best
experiences here," he said.  "My time here has been insightful and
unforgettable."
  Katharina Wegner, Evangelical (Lutheran) Church in Germany, led a
keynote presentation on capital punishment.  Wegner directs the human
rights desk of the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church in Germany.  Since
1987, she has been a member of the German section of Amnesty
International.
  "Forgive me because I am not going to be polite," Wegner told the
young people.  "I want something from you.  I want to challenge you to
think about the death penalty, and I hope you can make noise about human
rights.  What do we, as Christians, believe about capital punishment?"
  "In international law, it is forbidden to kill people who commit
crimes as minors, but there are five countries that execute minors.
They are Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United States,"
said Wegner.
   "Since 1984, more than 40 countries have abolished the death
penalty," Wegner said.  "Today, executions are performed in 87
countries.  There may be more, but it is difficult to assess."
  In 1999 more than 95 people were executed in the United States,
Wegner told participants.  "Fourteen of them were executed in Virginia,
and 35 of them were executed in Texas.  There were 135 executions
performed during Governor George Bush's term in Texas.  Governor George
Ryan has declared a moratorium in Illinois, because there were errors in
trials and proceedings.  In addition, mainly White jurists condemn Black
men."
  "Who decides who must die?  There is a risk in executing people;
they may be innocent," Wegner told the young Lutherans.  "Change is only
possible by you."
  Arguments for the death penalty are poor, Wegner said.  "It really
comes down to theology, which is where the church comes in.  We are
formed in the image of God."
  Wegner read aloud an excerpt from the ELCA Social Statement on the
Death Penalty:  "Executions do not restore society."  The statement was
adopted by the 1991 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
  "I know your church and others are committed to issues of the
death penalty.  But I am asking you, the young people of this church, to
consider the cause of human rights.  We urgently need you to make this
world a better place," Wegner said.
  In other matters, participants of the LYO convention elected new
officers for the LYO board.  Leota Thomas-Breifeld, 18, Brookfield,
Wis., was elected president.  She is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church, Waukesha, Wis.  Jon Vehar, 18, Albuquerque, N.M., was elected
vice president.  Vehar is a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church,
Albuquerque.  Rachel Preisinger, 17, Glenville, N.Y., was elected
secretary.  Preisinger is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
Glenville.
  Desiree Quintana, Martinez, Calif., led a presentation on
www.soulfuel.org -- an ELCA Web site dedicated to provide faith
resources for 18- to 32-year-olds.
  "Soulfuel is a place where youth and young adults can explore
their faith questions, pain, gifts, pursuits and triumphs, and it is a
place to be real with one another before God and before each other,"
Quintana said.  She is project coordinator for the Web site and chair of
"Connect with Youth and Young Adults," one of seven ELCA "Initiatives to
Prepare for a New Century" -- significant areas of ministry for the
church in the 21st century.
  Quintana said the Web site has three goals: To provide resources
to help young Christians live out their faith in day-to-day situations;
to publish an online magazine called, "The Well: A Place of Living
Water;" and to provide resources for youth and young adults who are
looking for service and volunteer opportunities in their communities.
  "The Web site is an important step for the future of young people
in the ELCA," said Quintana.  She said Soulfuel will be launched in six
to 10 weeks.
  Convention participants also engaged in worship, Bible study and
fun.
  The Lutheran Youth Organization holds its triennial convention in
conjunction with the ELCA Youth Gathering -- a gathering that brings
together thousands of young Lutherans from around the world.  The
Gathering met June 28-July 2, and is meeting again July 5-9 at the
America's Center in St. Louis.  The two events bring together some
40,000 Lutheran young people and adults who are engaging in worship,
Bible study, community service and fun under the theme "Dancing at the
Cross Roads."

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