Members of Edgewater Congregations Together Youth, a joint youth ministry in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, pose with Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton outside of the racial justice booth in the Cobo Center. “Lutherans are taking over Detroit,” said Caleb Miller, a member of the group from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chicago.

There were 32 students from the ELCA’s global companion churches who attended the Gathering as part of an exchange program coordinated by staff from the ELCA churchwide organization. International students were paired with youth groups from their companion synods for activities at the Gathering.

Bishop John Stanley Macholz of the Upstate New York Synod (right) prepares to zip-line in the Cobo Center while members of his synod cheer him on below. He challenged his synod to raise $5,000 for ELCA World Hunger’s Walk for Water – they exceeded the goal so he agreed to face his fear of heights and zip-line.

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton presides over closing worship on Sunday and prepares elements for serving communion. Youth and adult leaders received communion at several stations in Ford Field.

Youth serve each other communion on the main stage floor in Ford Field before departing home to their congregations. The next Gathering will be held in Houston in 2018.

On opening night, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton stands on stage at Ford Field and welcomes youth and leaders to the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering. “This is holy ground; let’s expect God to be at work in us and among us,” said Eaton.

Youth gather in Hart Plaza prior to departing for their service projects around Detroit.

Maggie Perry (left), Taylor LaPine (middle) and Kari Dettorre from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, Pa., help beautify a Detroit neighborhood by clearing debris in front of abandoned homes.

August 14, 2015

2015 ELCA Youth Gathering

Clad in candy-colored shirts, some 30,000 Lutherans met July 15-19 in Detroit for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering under the theme, “Rise Up Together.” The triennial event aims to enrich youth in their faith journeys through worship, music, presentations, recreation and community service. Youth and their leaders worked with Detroiters to paint 1,847 mural boards for vacant buildings, board up 319 vacant homes, clear 3,200 vacant lots of debris, distribute 1,425 backpacks and build 99 picnic tables. They also experienced Detroit’s restaurants and culture, spent time learning and playing in the Cobo Center, and dancing and worshiping at Ford Field. (Photos/Chris Ocken for The Lutheran)