September 25, 2009

CHICAGO – When it comes to human sexuality, young people hold as many different opinions as their older counterparts, but Christian youth have something stronger than their opinions. The board of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) wanted to get that point across in a letter to its synod council.

"The ELCA recently adopted a social statement regarding human sexuality. This has led to significant unrest among parts of our church body," said a letter the synod's LYO board drafted earlier this month for consideration at the ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod Council meeting Sept. 26.

"Some members have expressed concern about the decision and the implications it bears for the future of our ministry, even threatening to withhold their mission support or to withdraw from our churchwide family entirely," wrote the young leaders.

The August 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," by the required two-thirds majority exactly. The statement recognizes different perspectives in the church regarding same-gender committed relationships.

The young leaders of the ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod said they saw the debate continuing after the assembly as an "enormous opportunity to share the love that we have been shown" by God through Jesus Christ.

"Some adults would have you believe that all youth agree on a single viewpoint regarding this statement. We do not. In fact, we also have a variety of opinions, and we often disagree," wrote the synod LYO board.

"However, we stand united as an LYO board behind a slightly different message," said the youth. "We strive daily to live out a faith of love, tolerance and understanding, even in the most trying of times, and especially when we disagree," they said.

"We believe most ardently in the gospel message of God's loving grace and forgiveness, given freely for us all through Christ's sacrifice. Please join us as we aspire to live love," said the synod LYO board.

"We understand that people have different opinions, and we as a board were very split in our opinions," said Sarah Embley, synod LYO president, Trinity Lutheran Church, Mount Joy, Pa. "We think it is more important to look past our differences and keep the unity of the church and keep God in main view."

After its discussion in response to the ELCA's social statement on human sexuality, the board decided to give the synod a portion of "Change for Change" donations received during synod LYO meetings and events.

"We aren't happy with the fact that some people are pulling away from the Lutheran Church because of the decisions made. We know that some churches are withholding their money from the synod and the Lutheran Church," Embley said. "We don't think that's right."

"We would like to step up and do what we can to help," she said.

Charlie Roberts, the synod's director for youth ministry, said the LYO board wanted to send "a very clear message" that unity in Christ is a suitable response to disagreements, and not withholding benevolence.

The ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod is based in Harrisburg, Pa., and consists of 258 congregations in nine counties in south-central Pennsylvania.

Information regarding the ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod is at http://www.lss-ELCA.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service