CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Youth Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will pray with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community "in our home, church and world." The LYO board, meeting here Oct. 31-Nov. 2, acted to establish "A Year of Prayer," a year-long prayer emphasis for homosexual, bisexual and transgender youth.
"The purpose of our prayer will be to ask the Holy Spirit to inspire youth ministry with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community," said David Hansen, Roanoke College, Salem, Va. "The importance of prayer is always emphasized in the church. It is important to emphasize the power of prayer for this particular ministry," he said.
In 1995 the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly afirmed "that gay and lesbian people, individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of congregations."
"People realize that prayer is action. We want the church to take action and pray with us," said Meredith Lovell, Ellicott City, Md.
According to the board action, April 29, 1998, will be a day when approximately 500,000 members of LYO and others in the ELCA will be invited to pray and fast for the "personal and faith issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth." Planned is an interactive on-line event, participants will use the Internet to communicate with each other and invited church leaders.
Participants will be encouraged to fast for 24 hours as part of the emphasis. "Fasting is a way of showing commitment," said Hansen. Although one day has been set aside for prayer and fasting, youth are called to pray for this ministry from Nov. 1997 through Oct. 1998, he said.
The idea for the year-long prayer grew out of a resolution passed at the Fourth Triennial LYO Convention in New Orleans this summer. That action calls for the LYO board and the church to "investigate the possibility of planning and developing a pre-gathering conference for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth."
The Rev. Kelly Chatman, ELCA director for youth ministries, said in an interview, "The year of prayer is a prelude to a decision on the conference. It will be a time of discernment."
Such a pre-event conference "would provide a safe place for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth and offer workshops, keynote addresses and/or other programs that address the specific personal and faith issues facing them."
The LYO convention is held in conjunction with the ELCA Youth Gathering which brings together thousands of high-school-age Lutherans from across the United States and Caribbean.
In other business the board encouraged the church to teach what it means to be Lutheran. "We as young people need to learn more about Christianity, Lutheranism and about other churches, such as the Episcopal Church," said Mary Elizabeth Pfeiffer, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif. "We need to develop forums for discussion" and make ecumenism understandable to us, she said.
"Educating people on the basics of ecumenical issues can encourage people to understand more about their own faith," said board member Jay McDivitt, Loveland, Colo. We want the ELCA to know that LYO supports its ecumenical endeavors, said McDivitt.
Board members created a "covenant" for their business and relationships for the next three years together. "God did not want to create puppets," said Rebecca D. Lawrence, Chicago, LYO president. "God created humans with their own free will," she said.
The board promised to pray; to prohibit sexual harassment and the illegal use of drugs and alcohol at LYO meetings and youth gatherings; to respect all ideas, opinions and diversity of others; to uplift each other in ministry; and "to keep the legacy of the Lutheran Youth Organization going."
"Faith and God's love is the top and center of everything we do. We cannot stand without faith and God," said Hansen.
"Each board member has a responsibility to the organization and the areas in which he or she serves," said McDivitt.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
