Lutheran Students Celebrate, Reflect, Dream and Act in Chicago

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Under the theme, "WHY2K? It's About Time to Celebrate, Reflect, Dream and Act," Lutheran students from across the country met here Dec. 29-Jan. 2 for the 30th national gathering of the Lutheran Student Movement-USA (LSM-USA).
More than 350 students and Lutheran campus ministry staff met to "reflect on the significance of yesterday, the meaning of today and the hope for tomorrow" through worship, keynote presentations, workshops, small group discussions and faith-oriented study.
"Dare to dream of a future without war, hunger, violence, racial hatred, gender inequality, poverty and disease," said the Rev. Delois Brown-Daniels, vice president of Advocate Congregational Health Partners, Advocate Health Care, Chicago.
In her keynote presentation, Daniels told students to dream of a future without hopelessness. "Dare to dream. Greatness is intertwined with our God-given destinies."
Keynote speaker Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, told students to "do all they can to be the best they can be."
"I would hope that college and university students continue to put themselves in a posture by which they can run this great country of ours," White said in an interview. "I hope they continue to have love in their hearts for their fellow men and women, so we can have a society of winners. I also hope that when they get their feet firmly planted on earth, they would give back to their communities and make a difference in the lives of young people," he said.
White was accompanied by the Jesse White Tumbling Team, an international program designed to provide a "positive alternative" for inner city young people. The team does more than 970 performances every year. White founded the tumbling team in 1959. Since then more than 4,000 young men and women have performed with the team.
Other presenters included the Rev. John Buchanan, editor for the Christian Century and pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago; Mary Nelson, founding president of Bethel New Life, Inc., and the Rev. Robert N. Bacher, executive for administration for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Workshop topics at the gathering ranged from homosexuality to world hunger, from international service opportunities in the ELCA to Lutheran schools and day care centers.
In their business meeting, students agreed to support the efforts of the Jubilee 2000/USA Campaign -- part of the worldwide movement to reduce the debt burden of poor countries. They will write letters of support to U.S. Congress members for the endorsement of the Debt Relief for Poverty Reduction Act of 1990.
Students approved a resolution to encourage the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools board to develop compensation guidelines for teachers and early childhood professionals that would bring salaries up "to par" with public school district guidelines within the next five years. A purpose of the resolution was to encourage students of education to seek employment in Lutheran day schools.
Participants also agreed not to hold future LSM-USA national gatherings in South Carolina, until the South Carolina State House ceases to fly the Confederate Battle Flag from atop its building. Students voted to support a nationwide boycott called for by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
The flag "represents racial hatred," said Jeff Maas, University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Students defeated a resolution that would declare "sexual activity between persons of the same gender a sin." The purpose of the resolution was to affirm that LSM-USA welcomes students who hold the view that homosexuality is a sin.
June Bair, Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pa., said, "To pass such a resolution would support the understanding that LSM-USA does not love everyone, which is not the essence of the movement. We are a community of love that loves. If we were to pass a resolution that defines a particular sin, then we must pass a resolution stating all this is sin."
In other business, LSM-USA elected Russell Peek, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C., president for 2000. Peek was secretary of the organization in 1999. Cindy Ham, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif., was elected secretary and Lisa Parker, University of South Carolina, Columbia, was elected secretary for international and multicultural concerns. Peek, Ham and Parker are members of the ELCA.
LSM-USA is an independent organization of ELCA, Lutheran Church-Missou= ri=20 Synod and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church students at public, = Lutheran=20 and other private colleges and universities.

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