CSLYOPs is a leadership development ministry for Lutheran Youth Organization leaders across all ELCA synods and organized by the Council’s co-chairs, co-chair-elects and the LYO Advisor. The purpose of the Council is to discuss matters of interest and concern from synod youth ministry organizations, as well as to share youth ministry resources, information, and to provide learning and training experiences for all council members (LYO Constitution 7:14). Up to four people from each ELCA synod are invited to this event every fall: a synod youth organization president (or other young leader), a young person of color or whose primary language is other than English, a definitely-abled youth, and the adult youth ministry coordinator for the synod.

2007 Council meeting highlights

1. While we actually met in Wisconsin, we were hosted by the Minneapolis Area and St. Paul Area synods. Thank you to these folks for all that
   you did!
    
2. Our theme was focused on stewardship. We spent time learning
   about financial stewardship, environmental stewardship,
   gifts/time/talents stewardship, and something new and exciting called “intergenerational stewardship.”
   1. One financial stewardship resource shared by our chaplain, Rev. Lanny Westphal, was the ELCA Stewardship 10-10-80 online resources for youth.
   2. Dr. Terri Elton from Luther Seminary led an energizing session on identifying and knowing how to use our spiritual gifts. Check out and take the online Finding Your Spiritual Gifts Self-Assessment spiritual gifts inventory (different than the one she used, but also very good).
   3. Dr. Jon Bell, a Crow Nation member and peace educator, shared some different paradigms about how to learn about and care for the earth. He shared a poem titled “My School The Earth.” Go the the ELCA Stewardship Web site to learn about the free stewardship of creation resource, Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping (PDF).
   4. Intergenerational stewardship time was focused on strengthening communication, trust, respect, and partnership between youth and adults working in youth ministry. A couple of members from the group known as SYMBOL, the Synodical Youth Ministry Band Of Leaders, guided us through some powerful discussions.
       
3. The Council passed one recommendation to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clergy and lay-rostered leaders who are in committed, same-sex relationships. (text and ballot count) This recommendation will be sent to the Board of the LYO to consider at their next meeting in April of 2008.
    
4. The Council elected two new co-chair-elects to serve a two-year term on the Board of the LYO. They are Sally Ea from the St. Paul Area Synod and Chris Whitaker from the Central/Southern Illinois Synod. They were installed during our closing worship service.
    
5. We thoroughly enjoyed gathering at an ELCA Outdoor Ministry site! Be sure to become familiar with the ELCA Outdoor Ministry programs and sites nearest you. We highly encourage synod youth ministries to fully partner with our fine outdoor ministry and retreat center leaders.

If your synod is interested in hosting a future Council meeting, please contact Dianha Ortega-Ehreth at dianha.ortega@elca.org.

My School The Earth

My Teachers,
The Sky, the clouds, the sun, the moon.
The trees, the bushes, the grass,
The birds, the bears, the wolves,
The Rivers, whom I claim to be
My mad genius.
Once I missed a day
Because they tried to make
Me learn it from the books
In a little room
That was really too stuffy.
I hope my teachers don’t
Put me on the absent list.
I enjoy going to that school
Where the air is fresh.
Where nothing is said and I learn
From the sounds.
From the things I touch,
From all that I see.
Joy to the world and
I’ve fallen in love with my teachers …

By Darrel Daniel St. Clair from the Tlingit Nation
Published in the book titled “From Wilderness to the Wilderness”

CSLYOPs 2007: Recommendation #1 (final text)

WHEREAS Chapter IV Section 4.01.02 of the LYO Constitution states:

Individuals shall not be denied rights of membership in the Lutheran Youth Organization nor shall the Lutheran Youth Organization place restrictions on or denying rights to any person because of race, color, ability, gender, sexual orientation, or national or social origin and,

WHEREAS the LYO has a statement of welcome and invitation to people of all sexual orientations and genders, and

WHEREAS the ELCA is discussing amending the document “Visions and Expectations” so that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) clergy and lay-rostered leaders who are in committed, same sex relationships are not excluded from continuing their call, therefore be it

RECOMMENDED that it be known that CSLYOPs 2007 support LGBT clergy and lay-rostered leaders who are in committed, same-sex relationships in maintaining and continuing their call, and be it further

RECOMMENDED that BLYO include this topic of conversation on the agenda for the 2009 Convention.

Submitted by Rachel Nelson (7D).

Passed November 10, 2007 by the Council of Synod LYO Presidents.

Vote was taken by secret ballot: 38 in favor, 9 in opposition, 3 abstentions, and 1 vote was not cast.