Lutheran Student Movement-USA

1988

 

1988-10 Study/Action Project for Lutheran Youth of Central America Twinning

              Relationship

 

WHEREAS, many Lutheran students are student-age youth from nations all over Central

America gathered together by regions to form the first Lutheran Youth of Central America (LYCA) Congress in March, 1986; 1 and

 

WHEREAS, this Congress and Assembly was sanctioned by Lutheran World Ministries,

and by Lutheran World Federation, and by the Lutheran Church in America by sending representatives as observers and greeting-senders to this LYCA Congress’ first gathering;2 and

 

WHEREAS, Lutheran Student Movement-Pacific Northwest (LSM-PACNW) resolved to

begin a “Twinning Project” with LYCA regional bodies at their April 10, 1987, Regional Business Meeting in Tensed, Idaho, and are in the process of nurturing this relationship by establishing a special “sister-groups” relationship between LSM-PACNW and a regional LYCA group;3 and

 

WHEREAS, LYCA’s purposes, goals, and structure are very similar to LSM-USA’s by

providing spiritual ministry to Lutheran students and giving them a united voice in expressing concerns to the churches and the world; 4 and

 

WHEREAS, the Rev. Herb Schmidt, at the 1987 LSM-USA National Gathering in

Houston, TX, suggested that this study/action project should be a joint effort between LSM at Stanford University, LSM-PACNW, and Stanford University’s “Stanford Workshops on Political and Social Issues” (SWOPSI) in providing information and educational materials on the state of life and the church in Central America;5 and

 

WHEREAS, the 1988 LSM-USA National Council decided to endorse Laurel Hayes as

an official LSM-USA representative, observer, and greetings-taker to the 2nd LYCA Congress and Assembly (January 24-29 in Lake Amatitlan, Guatemala); and

 

WHEREAS, the students at this 2nd LYCA Congress also expressed interest to LSM-

PACNW and LSM-USA in developing “sister-group’ relationships; 7

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LSM-USA continue with this special Twinning

Project, as a call by the Gospel of Christ to build connectedness throughout the world, and for the reasons listed above, by doing the following:

 

1.      Accept the information and educational materials provided by SWOPSI’s academic course on Central America from Spring Quarter, 1988, as an LSM-USA study/action packet.  This resource packet would be available to LSM chapters across the country to enable them to develop education/action projects related to the issues in Central America.  Stanford University’s SWOPSI program has provided the financial support for the gathering and research of this material, and will provide LSM-USA financial assistance in distributing this information.

 

2.      Establishing sister relationships with regional LYCA groups in Central America.  These relationships will take the form of a twinning between LSM-USA regions and the LYCA regional groups in exchanging contacts, agreements, information, and commitments.  Catalyst for initial contact will be provided b the National Secretary for International Concerns (SIC and will transfer to the regional level at an appropriate time to be carried on as the region sees fit.

 

3.      The project will culminate in exchanges in visits to study and share between individuals and observers of the sister-groups.  This will also entail LSM-USA inviting LYCA representatives to its National Gatherings and helping to provide those visiting representatives with the financial support needed to attend.

 

4.      Having a National Gathering topic on the issues related to the state of the church and students in Central America, in all socio-politico-cultural forms, as soon as possible.

 

Sponsored by the Regional Assembly of the Lutheran Student Movement-Pacific Northwest, the Lutheran Student Movement at Stanford University, Philip Kempff, Laurel Hayes, Rev. Herb Schmidt, and Scott Pederson.  (Author: Philip Kempff, LSM-PACNW Regional Representative.)

 

Reference

 

1.      Affidavit of Laurel Hayes, Lutheran World Ministries observer, “1st LYCA Congress: Report of the U.S, Observer,” March, 1986.

 

2.      Ibid.

 

3.      LSM-PACNW Resolutions and Actions, “A Proposal to the Students of LSM-PACNW, April 10, 1987.

 

4.      Ibid.  Also see “1st LYCA Congress: Resolutions of the Lutheran Youth in Central America,” by Laurel Hayes, March 29, 1986.

 

5.      Statement by Rev. Herb Schmidt, National Lutheran Campus Ministries, Stanford University, made at workshop on trip made to El Salvador by Stanford students given during the 1987 LSM-USA National Gathering in Houston, TX, December 29, 1987-January 1, 1988.

 

6.      LSM-USA National Council Minutes from the LSM-USA National Council Meeting of January 3, 1988, in Houston, TX, and the Council’s following action.

 

7.      Affidavit by Laurel Hayes, LSM-USA representative and observer to the 2nd LYCA Congress; made in phone conversation with Philip Kempff in February, 1988.