CHICAGO (Feb.1, 2022) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has announced that the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering has been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, the recent COVID-19 surge and public health considerations. The Gathering pre-events — the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, the ELCA gathering for youth with disabilities — have also been canceled.
An announcement today from the ELCA Youth Gathering states: “We know there are thousands of young people who will not get to experience the Gathering, and our hearts break for them. This was not an easy decision, and we ask for your prayers and your grace. We understand the impact this decision will have on our youth, volunteers and planning teams, and we hope to return to Minneapolis for a future Gathering.”
The announcement emphasized the ELCA’s commitment “to supporting the young people of our church and to seeing that the ministry of the Gathering, MYLE and the tAble continue for years to come.”
The 2024 Gathering will take place July 16-20, 2024, with the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble taking place July 13-16, 2024. The location will be announced this summer.
More information is available at elca.org/Gathering.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
