CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) learned that about 40,000 high-school-aged and adult Lutherans will gather in St. Louis this summer for the ELCA Youth Gathering "Dancing at the Crossroads." The council received an update on the activities of the gathering.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 7-9. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
"Dancing at the Crossroads" will take place at the America's Center in two back-to-back events: June 28-July 2, and July 5-9, said the Rev. William "Bill" Kees, director for the ELCA Youth Gathering.
"There are 21,750 young people and adults who will participate in the first event and 16,000 who will participate in the second event, along with 800 volunteers for each event," Kees said.
Registration for the gathering opened Oct. 18, 1999, and closed April 3. Information about the gathering is on the Internet at www.elca.org/gathering.
In the past, some members of the church have "expressed concern that the ELCA Youth Gathering needs to be more than an event," Kees told the council. He said this year's gathering is "driven to look at outcomes from daily themes."
Kees told the council that on day one of the gathering participants will learn "there is a safe place for them to come," and on day two they will discover there is "purpose for living. The focus for day three is "reconciliation and forgiveness for all." Participants will discover on day four there is "truth to be told based on Jesus' death and resurrection," and on day five participants will learn that "because Jesus lives, there is life for all."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Prize-winning retired Anglican minister from South Africa, will be among several speakers at the gathering. Tutu will speak on day three -- June 30 and July 7 -- which focuses on reconciliation and forgiveness, Kees said.
Each day of the gathering will begin and end with a mass gathering at the TWA Dome, part of the America's Center. Morning mass gatherings will feature Bible study, evening gatherings will feature guest speakers, and both will include music, dance, drama, video, storytelling, audience participation and worship.
The ELCA Youth Gathering takes place every three years. The 2003 gathering will be held in Atlanta.
A leadership event for "definitely-able" young people will take place June 25-28 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 at Southern Illinois University. African American, American Indian, Arab American, Asian American and Latino young people will come together with some 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. Hundreds of Lutheran youth delegates from across the country will conduct the business of the organization.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
