Young Lutherans have been gathering for more than 100 years! The Lutheran denominations that made up the ELCA each had rich traditions of bringing their young people together. We’ve gathered in places from Los Angeles to Boston under such themes as “Called to Freedom” and “Jesus, Justice, Jazz,” with speakers from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Bishop Desmond Tutu.
ELCA Youth Gathering (1988 – Present)1988 – San Antonio, Texas, “Rejoice in the Lord Always”
1991 — Dallas, Texas, “Called to Freedom”
1994 — Atlanta, Ga., “2 Be Alive”
1997 — New Orleans, La., “River of Hope”
2000 — St. Louis, Mo., “Dancing at the Crossroads”
2003 — Atlanta, Ga., “Ubuntu” (Do Life)
2006 — San Antonio, Texas, “Cruzando” (Crossing)
2009 — New Orleans, La., “Jesus, Justice, Jazz”
2012 — New Orleans, La., “Citizens with the Saints”
2015 — Detroit, Mich., “Rise Up Together”
2018 — Houston, Texas, “This Changes Everything”
2021/2022 — Minneapolis, Minn., “boundless: God beyond measure” (Canceled due to COVID-19)
2024 — New Orleans, La., “Created to Be”
To learn more about the Gathering’s history,
visit the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s blog post.
