wfn.org | ELCA Bishops Endorse Youth and Family Ministry Proposal

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 14, 2002

ELCA BISHOPS ENDORSE YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY PROPOSAL
02-24-DM*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Addressing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) Conference of Bishops meeting here Oct. 7, a steering
committee for Youth and Family Ministry challenged the ELCA synod
bishops to make youth and family ministry more central to the
ministry and life of the ELCA.
     The ELCA is organized into 65 synods each headed by a bishop.
The Conference of  Bishops is an advisory body to the church,
consisting of each synod bishop, the ELCA presiding bishop and the
ELCA secretary.
     "Youth and family ministry is the evangelical outreach for
people of all ages," said the Rev. William B. Kees, director for
youth ministries/gathering team, ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     "The whole church is called upon to make this movement
visible," said Kees. "It is also an inclusive cross-generational way
of living in community that will pass on the faith we have in Jesus
Christ."
     He further elaborated that passing on the faith will shape the
life, health and ministry of ELCA congregations as well as life,
health and ministry in families.
     Over the past four years, the number of people who serve as
youth and family ministers has grown from three to 42 in the ELCA
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, said Peggy S. Contos, assistant to
the bishop. Contos emphasized that while she celebrates the expansion
of youth and family ministry, "this can be a fragmented group of
leaders," she said.  Youth and family ministers are struggling for
support and resources, and training is needed across the church,
Contos added.
     In a proposal, "Developing a Strategy for Synodical Youth and
Family Ministry" presented to the bishops, the committee called upon
"the church to embrace a vision, mission and core values which
support faith formation in children, youth, families and young
adults."
     The bishops unanimously endorsed the proposal. "In endorsing
the proposal, the bishops have publicly chosen to walk with the
strategy by boldly proclaiming it as key to the church," said Kees.
     The proposal invites the whole church "to recognize the urgency
and create passion within synods and among bishops, for the
evangelical task of youth and family ministry," it said. The
underlying theme of the proposal is grounded in faith and how the
faith is passed on to the family of God and the world, Kees said.
     The proposal also noted a number of paradigm shifts from past
practices to new practices in youth and family ministry, which call
for transformation in the church.  For example, the proposal said
youth were once considered to be "a problem," but today they are seen
as partners and resource persons. In the past youth ministry was
perceived as a program, today it is a process and relationship, the
proposal said.
     ELCA youth ministry leaders will meet Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2003, in
Atlanta for the "Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza," a continuing
education conference, Kees said.
-- -- --
     Information about the Division for Congregational Ministries'
Youth Ministries Team can be found at http://www.elca.org/dcm/youth
on the ELCA Web site.

     *Diana Mavunduse is a communicator with the World Council of
Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. This fall she is serving as a
volunteer with the ELCA News Service.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html