Title: Lutheran Students Celebrate, Reflect, Dream and Act in Chicago
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 6, 2000
LUTHERAN STUDENTS CELEBRATE, REFLECT, DREAM AND ACT IN CHICAGO
00-02-MR
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-Missouri
Synod and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church students at public, Lutheran
and other private colleges and universities.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
|
