For Parents
Dear Partners in Mission and Ministry:
Since the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly mandated that this church prepare a social statement on human sexuality, we have together been on a journey of conversation and deliberation. As part of the process for developing this social statement, now due to come to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2009, the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality has published three documents for congregational study. These have focused on a wide range of issues related to human sexuality, including homosexuality. Their intention has been to help this church engage in a full discussion of sexuality, and to inform the preparation of the social statement.As part of their discernment, the task force has been profoundly aware of the many ways in which the subject matter of these studies matter to and impact youth.
Guiding the formation and Christian vocation of youth is a sacred trust that this church seeks to fulfill. Therefore, in the course of writing these studies, the task force has identified the need to seek out the perspectives of youth. This study, an adaptation of the third task force study Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk About Human Sexuality is intended for use by senior high youth together with parents, pastors, and youth leaders. Its principal author, youth worker and youth and family therapist Kari LynWampler, is owed a particular debt for her creative approach to adapting the complex material from the original study. The rich variety of appeals to learning styles is her doing, as well as the hours required to make the youth study so accessible.
It is the sincere hope of the task force that this study will invite the participation of youth inthe discussion and deliberation leading to the formation of a social statement on human sexuality. Responses may be given using the form at the back of the study, and through the discussion forums on the accompanying Web site at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/youth. The deadline for the response form is December 15, 2007. However our experience is that the conversations generated by these studiescontinue after the deadlines for response. Therefore please note that the online forums will be live until 2009. I am pleased that we can offer this resource for the youth of this church. The work of the task force will be greatly informed by their knowledge, insight, and experience.
Kind regards,
Rebecca Larson, Executive Director
ELCA Program Unit for Church in Society