Registration for ELCA Youth Gathering 2000 Opens October 18

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Registration for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering 2000 opens Oct. 18. The senior high school gathering, "Dancing at the Cross Roads," will take place next summer in St. Louis at the America's Center and TWA Dome.
Young people and adult counselors can register for the gathering in one of two ways -- via the Internet at www.elca.org/gathering or by sending materials through the mail, said Donna Wiegel, registrar, ELCA Youth Gathering. Registration for "Dancing at the Cross Roads" on the ELCA's website is a new feature, she said.
The Youth Gathering will be held as two separate events scheduled to run back-to-back: June 28 to July 2, and July 5 to July 9. A capacity of 50,000 registrants will be accepted overall, with 25,000 young people attending each event.
The idea for organizing two events came "when too many congregations were turned away from the 1997 Youth Gathering in New Orleans, because of the lack of space," Wiegel said.
The gathering staff expects that everyone who registers will be accepted.
"The gathering had reached a crossroad of its own -- so many people and not enough room. The board of the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries decided that the gathering should be available to everyone who wants to come. The gathering was transformed from a one-time occurrence to a twice-repeated event," Wiegel said.
The mission of "Dancing at the Cross Roads" is "to make and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ." The goals of the gathering include: to connect with, support, celebrate and strengthen congregational youth ministries; to create a safe environment for truth-telling; to nurture faith journeys at all stages; to train and support adult and youth leaders; to celebrate global diversity; and to inspire discipleship that works for justice in the world.
According to the mission, vision, values and goals, the ELCA Youth Gathering is a public venue where youth and adults from Lutheran congregations around the world will gather "to invite, grow and nurture faith" in the lives of all who attend.
A leadership event for "definitely-abled" young people will take place June 25-28, 2000, at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill. The event, "Here I am Lord, With My Dancing Shoes On," is open to all Lutheran young people with physical, visual, auditory, mental and learning disabilities or a combination of these disabilities. Participants will contemplate the theme through Bible studies, small group activities, workshops and worship.
The Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) will take place June 25-28, 2000, at Southern Illinois University. African American, American Indian, Arab American, Asian American and Latino young people will come together with international guests and White youth from multicultural congregations to "celebrate" the ELCA's commitment to embracing cultural diversity.
The theme for MYLE is "Let the Spirit Move You." Participants will gather for Bible studies, leadership development, small group activities, workshops and worship.
The Fifth Triennial Convention of the ELCA Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) will be held July 2-5 at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Hundreds of Lutheran delegates from across the country will conduct the business of the organization.
LYO is the "umbrella" organization for youth in the ELCA. It represents the voices of more than 500,000 young people in the church.

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