ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 2, 2012  

35,000 ELCA teenage, adult members to descend on New Orleans, July 18-22
12-43-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For the past 25 years, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) has been deeply committed to the faith formation
of its teenagers, namely through ELCA Youth Gatherings - the largest
event organized by the 4.2 million-member church.
     Held every three years, ELCA Youth Gatherings bring together 35,000
ELCA teenage-members, adults, volunteers and other Lutherans from around
the world for leadership development, faith formation, service
opportunities and more.
     "Citizens with the saints" is the theme for the 2012 ELCA Youth
Gathering to be held July 18-22 in New Orleans.
     For Greg Von Wald, a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in
Gaithersburg, Md., attending the 2009 gathering changed the trajectory of
his life. The service work opportunities and wrestling with questions of
faith, plus an inspiring quote, inspired Von Wald to help change the
world.
     "Gandhi's famous quote, 'be the change you wish to see in the
world,' is a call to action," said Von Wald, who has since traveled to
economically depressed areas in the United States to continue volunteer
work.
     Now entering college in the fall, Von Wald will major in integrated
science and technology "to develop and refine new methods of renewable
energy. Everyone knows that global warming is a problem."
     His continued volunteer work after the gathering also has made Von
Wald "conscious of the fact that being the change I wish to see should
not end with each service trip (or event). Rather, it should be a living
idea that grows with me and is in my mind every single day."
     Von Wald plans to share his experiences on stage when he speaks to
the estimated 35,000 participants at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering.

Citizens with the saints
     "This generation in particular is a product of the ELCA's deepening
understanding of and commitment to the connection between service
learning and faith formation," said Heidi Hagstrom, director of the
gatherings.
     She said she has always understood ELCA Youth Gatherings "to be a
tool that our congregations can choose to use as they fulfill the
promises they made when baptizing children and that they, along with
parents, will rear those children in the faith.
     "I want young people to return to their congregations as leaders,
demonstrating what they've learned and possibly igniting the whole
congregations' imagination" for mission, she said, adding that this
summer's gathering is also about justice and love.
     "Something very special happened between ELCA members and the people
of New Orleans," back in the 2009 gathering, said Hagstrom. "A bond of
companionship was established," which is part of the reason why the ELCA
Youth Gathering is returning to New Orleans -- the first time the
gathering will be held in the same city consecutively.
     "People often ask why we are going back to New Orleans," said
Hagstrom. "The answer is simple: God is not done with us there."
     "I have also never experienced so many congregations reporting back
about how they intended to stay in relationship with the people they
served in New Orleans," she said.
     The 2012 theme, "citizens with the saints," beautifully defines our
commitment to New Orleans, said Hagstrom.

Highlights of the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering
     As planning for this gathering began, "We went back to the people
and organizations that we served in 2009 and asked them to tell us about
their hopes and dreams now," she said.
     "The challenges that rose to the surface in those conversations were
all the result of systematic, generational poverty" that continues since
Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast eight years ago.
     One urgent challenge that participants of the 2012 ELCA Youth
Gathering will address is the literacy rate. A goal is to collect 1
million books for the children and families of New Orleans.
     "ELCA youth will be distributing books to children by hosting 25
book festivals through the New Orleans Recreation Department and the New
Orleans Communities in Schools organization. They will host several
reading camps and plan to build libraries in three recreation centers. In
2009, ELCA youth stuffed 13,000 backpacks with school supplies - enough
for every child in grades kindergarten to third. In 2012, we'll be doing
the same for children in grades four to six," said Hagstrom.
     Other significant service opportunities include helping with
neighborhood cleanups, building backyard gardens for families, painting a
mural and more. A primary focus of these opportunities will also provide
ways for ELCA youth to learn about some injustices in New Orleans.
     Keynote speakers at this summer's gathering include the Rev. Mark
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, and Leymah Gbowee, a 2011 Nobel Peace
Prize laureate and Lutheran Liberian peace activist.
     Another highlight of the gathering is the "100 Wells Challenge,"
where the goal is to raise $250,000 to support the water projects of ELCA
World Hunger, particularly in areas where they are needed most.
     Several ELCA congregations across the country received grants from
the Mission Investment Fund, a financial ministry of the ELCA, to attend
the gathering.
     Two events on July 16-18 -- Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and
the Definitely Abled Youth Events -- will precede the ELCA Youth
Gathering.
     For detailed information about the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering, visit
http://www.ELCA.org/ELCA/youth-gathering.aspx.
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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 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations 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:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper
773-380-2956 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.ELCA.org/news
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