INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a report from the young adult convocation under way in conjunction with the assembly. About 30 Lutherans -- ages 18 to 30 -- are participating in the convocation.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
"It is a good time to be the church," Brett Murphy, 18, Brookhaven, Pa., told the assembly. Murphy is a member from the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Norristown, Pa.
"We have come here to the young adult convocation as a diverse group with diverse gifts. Throughout the week, we have met and discussed issues that are relevant to us and the entire church body. We feel strongly about many issues, but we have found four [topics] about which we are particularly passionate," Murphy said. The four topics are worship, evangelism, social justice and the "young adult voice."
The young adults said they envision worship where there is "an expansion of Lutheran tradition while maintaining relevance and faithful theology, and a passionate spirit-filled experience within the entire spectrum of worship settings."
Regarding evangelism, they envision "a continued excitement within [young adults] to take part in the ELCA's new and ongoing efforts; a building of relationships with young adults who are inactive in the church, while also building a faith foundation for those who are unchurched; support the needs of all young adults by all people of the church, including but not limited to young adults, youth, pastors, lay people, seminary professors, definitely-abled persons, [people] of color and all believers in Christ; and [support] for an inter-generational ministry."
Young adults also made clear their vision for social justice. They hope that the ELCA "will take a leadership position in defeating stereotypes and negative generalizations," and take action on the issue of ordination of gay and lesbian people while "affirming their gifts to the body of Christ."
The convocation expressed their interest in having a staff member employed at the churchwide office to work "exclusively" for young adult ministries. They wish to have a "greater utilization of the wisdom and resources [from the church] for empowering and nurturing young adult ministries" in the ELCA and to "complete participation and representation of all young adults within all levels of the life of the church."
Murphy closed the convocation's report by asking all the voting members of the assembly who are considered young adults to stand up. He said, "These people represent the small voice for young adults currently within the ELCA. We, as the young adult convocation, challenge the [2001] assembly and the [65] synods [of the church] to empower a larger percentage of young adults to represent the whole church body." -- -- --
Information about assembly actions is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.
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
