77-3     Resolution on Youth and Students in the Life of Lutheran Churches

 

Background

 

During the sixth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, held June 13-26, 1977, in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, the attached resolution was adopted.

 

The resolution came about after much discussion with over 20 youth and student delegates and participants about their needs, hopes, and frustrations with and for the Church. The four paragraphs in the preamble of the resolution were the general consensus of the many issue groups, seminars and the youth initiative group held during the assembly.

 

Further, after hearing of the concerns of youth and students during the first week of the Assembly, the member churches still did not nominate any youth or students for the 30 Executive Committee positions. There are presently few, if any, youth or students included as members of the LWF commissions. This was and is seen as a direct contradiction to many of the theoretical and theological statements of the Lutheran World Federation regarding the participation and inclusion of the faithful into the human structures of the whole Body of Christ.

 

Be It Therefore Resolved

 

1)         That this Legislative Assembly of Lutheran Student Movement—USA go on record as being supportive of the Lutheran World Federation Resolution Exhibit Number 10.1.7.8 on Youth and Students in the Life of Lutheran Churches.

 

2)         That letters of thanks, encouragement, and support for the above stated resolution be sent by the LSM-USA National Council to the LWF staff, Executive Committee and the USA member Churches, and that regions and local groups are urged to do the same.

 

3)         That this assembly is dismayed by the lack of youth and student participation on the LWF Executive Committee and its commissions, and urges the LWF Executive Committee, its commissions, and the USA member churches to strongly consider and act on the inclusion of youth and students in the total life of the Lutheran World Federation, by sending copies of this resolution to LWF staff, its Executive Committee, and the USA member churches.

 

Actions Taken

 

+          Letters were sent for LSM-USA by Mr. William R. Host, jr., Special Assistant for Student Affairs of the Lutheran Council in the USA, to the Lutheran World Federation staff, executive committee, and to the USA member churches stating LSM-USA’s thanks and support of the LWF resolution exhibit #10.1.7.8 on Youth and Students in the Life of Lutheran Churches. The following are excerpts from the responses LSM-USA received.

 

            …Thank you for your letter of 16th December 1977 in which you call upon my attention to the omission we have undergone in Dar es Salaam during the formation of the new Executive Committee of the LWF by not including one youth in that committee. I thank you also for the attached resolution on “Youth and Students in the Life of Lutheran Churches.”

 

Already in Dar es Salaam it was clear that such concern would arise sooner or later and I personally can say that it is my intention to try our best and do something specially according to the resolution of the Executive Committee…

 

…There are contemplations of establishing a special desk for youth at Geneva. During our Offers Meeting recently we touched this point. There were the usual pro and contra views about this idea. Some people think it is better to involve the youth in the congregation and not set up an office in Geneva while nothing is being done in the congregation. Thus the dialogue on this matter is still going on… (We) hope to come out with some practical steps on this work after the LWF Executive Meeting in August 1978.

 

Probably I must reiterate that this subject is of great concern to me personally not only now when I am holding the position as President of LWF but even before, I mean, while I was chairman of the Commission on Church Cooperation during 1970-1977 period. We never ceased to raise this call to the Executive Committee each time we met. I shall continue to do the same in the following meetings of the Ethics subject is of great concern to me personally not only now when I am holding the position as President of LWF but even before, I mean, while I was chairman of the Commission on Church Cooperation during 1970-1977 period. We never ceased to raise this call to the Executive Committee each time we met. I shall continue to do the same in the following meetings of the Executive Committee.

 

You would help us a great deal if you could in your assembly of Youth and Students in the Life of Lutheran Churches give us concrete suggestions as to how to coordinate the youth movement in Church life throughout the world….

                                                Josiah Kibira

                                                President, LWF

 

… Youth should know that we are working on the matter of priorities for the work of the Lutheran World Federation and that the matter of “Youth and Students in the Life of the Lutheran Churches” is discussed with great care. We are at present working on a plan to see how we can best assist the churches in these questions….

                                                Carl H. Mau, Jr.

                                                General Secretary, LWF

 

… Thanks very much for your recent letter and the enclosed resolution from the LSM conference. Your concern will certainly be represented at the upcoming meetings of LWF….

                                                                                                David W. Preus

                                                                                                President, ALC

 

… I recognize full well the difficulty which you point out in the resolution of the LSM-USA with respect to increased representation or involvement of youth in the various commissions and committees of the National Churches. There is only one way to achieve that kind of equity and that is to keep pushing and plugging for it. People responsible for appointments must be aware of your desire for involvement of youth. So, keep it up!…

                                                                                    William H. Kohn

                                                                                    President, AELC

 

… I am very much in sympathy with the sentiments in your letter of December 16 and the resolution adopted by the Lutheran Student Movement.

 

The resolution is all the more important because of the lack of youth in the staff and in the Executive Committee and commissions of the Lutheran World Federation. Women are in a much better advocacy position and are sure to heard. I shall champion the fulfillment of the resolution on youth in the Program Priorities Committee which I chair….

                                                                                    Robert J. Marshall

                                                                                    President, LCA

 

… Thank you for your penned note and the resolution on youth and students in the Life of Lutheran Churches passed by the Legislative Assembly of the LSM-USA. Without a doubt the LWF Assembly did miss the contribution of youth and students. This point in particular was expressed at the post-Assembly meeting of the Executive Committee when we expressed an oral evaluation of the Assembly….

 

Youth, like women, and in the United States minority group persons need a base for advocacy. No matter how many ideals we espouse when we talk about the inclusiveness of the church, these groups of people tend to be underrepresented unless their advocates speak in their behalf.

 

So, be assured I (will) do my best to urge participation of youth in the many areas of LWF life and work….

                                                                                    Dorothy J. Marple

                                                                                    Assistant to the President, LCA

 

One Year Later

 

+          The following article is presented by Ralph Wushke of LSM—Canada as an update on youth and student involvement in the life of Lutheran churches. Ralph was one of the seven youth participants making up the Youth Working Party which he describes in this article.

 

            “Youth Work” Progresses in Lutheran World Federation

 

            Recent developments in one of the four LWF units – the Commission of Church Cooperation—offers much hope to those who have looked to the LWF for some action in the area of youth/student work.

 

Acting on the initiative taken by/for youth at the 6th Assembly in Dar es Salaam, the Commission for Church Cooperation invited seven youth participants to its first meeting in Montreax, Switzerland (near Geneva). The youth participants formed a very international Youth Working Party which was as representative of LWF constituency as any group of seven could be. The members were from Malaysia, Nigeria, Colombia, USA, Poland, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Canada.

 

The Youth Working Party met four days prior to the opening of the Commission for Church Cooperation meeting. The Party saw their task to “be open to receive all information and then respond with honesty and integrity to the matter of youth work in the LWF.” After two days of listening and questioning staff from all LWF departments, and from the Youth Sub-unit of the World Council of Churches, and analyzing responses to the Questionnaire on Youth and Students that had been sent to the member churches, the Youth Working Party prepared its report. The essence of the seven page report consists of five recommendations that encourage youth integration and participation in all aspects of the LWF so that they may bring their unique contribution, learn by experiencing, and gain a vision of the Church by personal contact.

 

In practical terms the Youth Working Party recommended that an internship program be established that would put youth interns in each LWF department every year. Youth participants in every commission and on the Executive Committee were recommended. A twelve member Youth Committee with overseeing responsibilities for youth work in the LWF was proposed. It was recommended that rather than establishing a single youth desk—that requests for youth programs, and responsibilities for youth related tasks be handled out of the appropriate department. Youth work should be interdepartmental, the Youth Working Party said. It also suggested LWF provide for more intensive personal contact among youth on an international basis.

 

This proposal was presented to the Commission for Church Cooperation and very well received. The recommendations were adopted almost verbatim by the Commission. An additional recommendation was included by the Commission that funds amounting to $90,000(US) be requested to enable the youth recommendations. This endorsed report of the Youth Working Party will be considered by the Executive Committee of LWF at its August meeting. One hopes that the positive action of the Commission for Church Cooperation will stir the Executive Committee to act equally as positive.

 

As this author sees the proposals, they do offer hope for a new quickening for youth involvement in LWF. But, one has to conclude with a note of concern about the lack of action by the North American member churches of the LWF on this issue, and challenge them to actively follow the example of the LWF in their agencies.