March 27, 2007

LUND, Sweden/GENEVA – Young adult representatives from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches have urged the LWF to stand firm as a communion, and not be divided by the different opinions held on the subject of marriage, family and sexuality.

The young adults' appeal to the Lutheran communion was part of their message delivered on 26 March to the LWF Council after a 16-19 March Pre-Council Youth workshop in Hoor, south Sweden. During their four-day meeting, the 23 young people from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America, discussed a report on the evaluation of the LWF Youth in Church and Society (YICAS) desk and its strategic plan to empower young people to meaningful participation in the LWF and local churches.

The YICAS desk is located in the LWF Department for Mission and Development.

The workshop's participants included stewards, youth Council members and youth delegates attending meetings that coincided with the 20-27 March LWF 60th anniversary celebrations in the Swedish city of Lund, where the LWF was founded in 1947. The theme of the LWF events was "Living in Communion in the World Today."

In their message to the Council, the youth said that through interaction, they had realized the diversity of issues involved and the variation in opinion and ideas from the wide spectrum of membership that comprises the LWF.

At the workshop, they deliberated on the meaning of Lutheran identity today. They noted that although "our common Lutheran identity is being lived differently throughout the communion ... our faith as Lutherans is founded on the good news that is witnessed in the Holy Scriptures."

Lutheran identity has a mission to strengthen Christianity and the ecumenical movement, they said in their message. At the same time, the different ways of worship, diaconal service and church structures should be continually reevaluated and developed "according to the good news."

The young adults acknowledged the LWF's efforts to become an inclusive and open communion, but they also recognized that there were still many people who do not realize the purpose and activities of the organization. "We would like to encourage every delegate and Council member to carry the message of the LWF back to their local contexts," they said in their message, which was received by the LWF Council meeting.

In the Council's action on the recommendations of the Program Committee for Mission and Development, it was agreed that the name YICAS be changed to LWF Youth, and that more emphasis should be given the desk's advocacy role.

Concerning the representation of youth in LWF events and activities, the Council agreed that the full participation of youth – 20 percent – be more fully integrated into the Youth strategic plan, and that concerns related to gender, including the full participation of women – 40 percent – be named as part of what it means to be an inclusive communion.

Lutheran World Information