Lutheran Women, Youth Offer Vision for LWF Assembly

DENVER, Colo. (ELCA) -- Women and youth of the North American region of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met here separately in consultations preparing for the July 21-31 LWF Assembly. Both groups laid out a series of social and political concerns, and strategies to address their concerns.
The LWF is a global communion of 136 Lutheran churches in 76 countries. LWF membership includes 61.7 million of the world's 65.4 million Lutherans. The LWF Assembly, held every six years, will take place July 21-31 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
About 38 women from North America met here Jan. 22-23, just before the start of a Jan. 23-26 LWF Pre-Assembly Consultation involving all North American assembly delegates, staff and advisors. Twelve young Lutherans met here Jan. 18-21.
The women included members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad and the Lituanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora. The youth included members of the ELCA, ELCIC and Latvian Church Abroad.
Both groups were joined by LWF staff and advisors from the LWF- member churches.

WOMEN'S CONSULTATION CALLS FOR WRITTEN BALLOTING
In a written report, the Women's Consultation confessed that, "as Lutheran Christian women of North America," they have failed to live up to their baptismal calling to strive for peace and justice throughout the earth; failed to love their neighbors as themselves; failed to understand that as Christ's body they are in an interdependent global community; failed to hear brothers' and sisters' calls for peace and justice; and failed to trust God and instead trusted in their own efforts for security.
They expressed particular concerns and suggested strategies for issues related to nationalism and civil religion; affluence and economic globalization; race, gender and sexuality; and HIV/AIDS. For healing, they pledged to acknowledge and confess their fallen humanity, denounce idolatries and pray for forgiveness; reaffirm their baptismal calling to strive for justice and peace throughout the earth; and work "cooperatively and collectively" with people of faith and others to bring about peace, justice, reconciliation, protection of human rights and healing to the world.
They made many action pledges, such as to increase advocacy to end world hunger, to provide education and training against racism and "internalized oppression," and to advocate for "generous" funding from the U.S. and Canadian governments for HIV/AIDS treatment and research, and to challenge pharmaceutical companies to lower costs.
A key suggestion for LWF assembly voting procedures resulted in some discussion by all the delegates to the North American Pre-Assembly Consultation.
"In particular, we urge that the LWF adopt the procedure of written balloting at all assemblies," the women wrote in their report.
Apparently, women delegates from some countries are not allowed to vote as they wish, but are expected or required to vote as their delegation votes, explained the Rev. Gladys Moore, ELCA delegate to the LWF Assembly from Jersey City, N.J. Women may vote differently than men on certain issues, she added. Presently, voting is done informally without the use of voting machines or written ballots.
Participants in the North American Pre-Assembly Consultation agreed by consensus to seek an amendment in the assembly rules when the rules are considered. North American delegates will ask that voting on LWF "public statements" -- which require a two-thirds vote to approve -- be done by written ballot, said the Rev. Susan Tjornehoj, LWF delegate from St. Paul, Minn.
She also explained that at some point during the assembly, the North American delegates hope to propose that LWF voting policies be reviewed.

YOUTH PRAY, COMMIT TO SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Twelve young representatives of the ELCIC, ELCA and Latvian Church Abroad met to consider issues of significance to young people in North America. Through prayer and conversation, "we found that the problems of individual and systematic violence are of primary concern to many young adults of North America," the youth said in a written report. "We have agreed to support each other and work together to oppose this violence in our places of ministry." Presenting the report to the Pre- Assembly Consultation were Lindsay Mack, St. Paul, Minn., and Jakob Rinderknecht, Chelan, Wash. Both are ELCA delegates to the LWF Assembly in Winnipeg.
The young Lutherans said violence and the concept that war is "an acceptable political tool" were systems that contradict the gospel of Jesus Christ. They identified economic globalization, exclusion, poverty, and portrayals of sexuality and body image as "subtle forms of violence wrapped in our lives."
The youth asked for prayer, a coordinator of young adult ministries for Lutherans in North America, education and information sharing, working to move people to passion and urgency to solve social problems, reforming the "culture of violence" and equipping young adults for action.
They committed to daily prayer for peace and reconciliation, political advocacy for the "voiceless," buying less and buying responsibly, educating themselves about global systems, sharing what they learn, working toward a North American young adult gathering, creating community and corresponding with one LWF youth liaison from the Southern Hemisphere.
"The most important part of our work together has been coming together for confession," Rinderknecht told the Pre-Assembly Consultation. For example, he said the Youth Consultation asked if there could be a place at the Winnipeg assembly where people could confess, in writing, how each contributes to a "broken" world. -- -- --
Information about the LWF Tenth Assembly can be found at http://www.lwf-assembly.org/ on the Web.

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