CSYLOPs

I am sitting in a parliamentary procedure run meeting of high school and early college youth, who are leaders in the LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization). Here in the hills of Arkansas, youth and adults from 38 of the 65 ELCA synods in the US are gathered. We are focusing on leadership, diversity (of all kinds), dialogue, and the implementation of change, as leaders in the church. There are young people gathered from New Hampshire and southern California - and everywhere in between. The adults who've come along as advisers are youth ministers, parents, synodical youth leaders, camp directors, pastors, and interns in synod offices.

The youth I brought from the St. Paul Area Synod and I are meeting and re-meeting friends from all over the country. We are enjoying the sunny autumn weather of a (more) southern climate and the joy of soft serve ice cream. We are learning about the Board of the LYO and its responsibilities. We are discussing Churchwide Assembly, Youth Convocation, the LYO convention and the National Youth Gathering. Although our gathering is called CSYLOPs (pronounced Cyclops), which stands for Council of Synod Lutheran Youth Organization Presidents, I have not spotted any mythological, one-eyed monsters in the woods....yet.