ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 14, 2003 ELCA Assembly Receives Youth Convocation Report 03-CWA-25-BMC MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a report from the youth convocation under way in conjunction with the assembly. Thirty-seven youth, ages 15 to 18, are participating in the convocation. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." The report focused on the questions that youth and young adults ask. The report started with a series of questions about faith and the church, read by convocation participants. "Each question is an opportunity, each question is important," said Kwau Kuntu, 18, of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod. "We all have our own way of thinking. It is our desire to follow God's will and love everyone as sisters and brothers in Christ," said Sashyl Verduga, 16, of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod. The youth also made statements about outreach, and they stressed that youth workers should be thanked for the dedication they show in working one-on-one with young adults. Convocation participants asked the 27 voting members who are 18 years old or younger to stand up and thanked them, saying: "We are very happy that you have received this opportunity. Thank you for serving the church in this way." Voting member Anna Lindquist, 17, commented after the session, "I'm glad I can be a part of what's going on here." A member of the ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Lindquist said she'd like to be come back for the next assembly. The closing prayer was led by John Borgstadt, 16, a member of the ELCA Nebraska Synod. "Help us to know we're always part of your church. We all want to make a difference." -- -- -- Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news