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
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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
