LYO Delegates Meet In Atlanta

It was interesting being in CNN land. Televisions broadcasting CNN were everywhere you looked, reporting the news of the world. But yet, a huge event was happening in Atlanta were thousands of ELCA youth gathered, and I’m not sure the youth gathering even received a sound bite.

Close to 300 youth delegates from across the ELCA gathered to conduct the business of the LYO, elect the 2003-06 LYO, Churchwide Board and discuss the issues that face the wider church. The Youth Delegate meeting was held in Atlanta, Georgia between the two weeks of the Youth Gathering. Five of our LYO Board members from the Northwestern Ohio Synod represented us well. Laura Bockbrader, Nathan Braden, Heidi Brooks, Andrea Keller and Stacy Peck were our delegates to the Sixth Triennial Convention of the Lutheran Youth Organization.

The youth delegate meeting faced many challenges that we often think are found outside of the church. But as our delegates found, we are right, smack in the middle of the world and we are part of the world. Issues discussed and debated included ecumenism, multiculturalism and sexuality. These discussions and debates were challenging at times. And yes, hurtful words were said against one another. But unlike the secular world, a time was taken out for prayer and the reminder of God’s loving presence.

We were reminded once again of God’s forgiveness and the power of God’s mercy in our lives. And I would say, by the end of the event, we were empowered. And hopefully, we have found it to be a new day, a new way of doing things through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

And to think, none of this was reported on CNN.

Pastor Cathy Schibler
Assistant to the Bishop