On June 10th, 2025 five Lutheran clergy met via Zoom to discuss the church’s relationship with young adults. Facilitated by Cyan Gargol, a young adult from Winnipeg, the panel discussed their own experience of the church as young adults, their hopes for the ELCIC as it relates to young adults, and their vision and passion for young adults in the church.

This project came out of a grant from the Fund for Theological Exploration, which resources churches and leaders in accompanying young adults in vocational discernment. Deacon Michelle received a denominational grant to explore and expand how the denomination engages vocational discernment with young adults. Throughout the grant project, young adults were invited into conversation and experiences that were focused on fostering community, reflection and discernment. As part of this project, Deacon Michelle reached out to clergy from across the ELCIC who are involved in walking alongside young adults in one way or another. The conversations with these leaders led to a desire to capture a discussion that could spark further discussion.

“If we keep talking about it…we keep talking about it…and that’s not a bad thing.”

A Word from Cyan Gargol, Panel Facilitator, Videographer, and Video Editor

The four episodes in this series are:

1. What Drew You to the Church as a Young Adult?
2. Why Should We Listen to Young Adults?
3. How Can the Church Nurture Young Adults?
4. What are Your Hopes for the Future of the ELCIC as It Relates to Young Adults?

Here are Three Steps to engaging in the conversation:

1. Gather with others who care about the church: councils, leadership teams, adult education groups, etc
2. Watch one or more of the episodes of conversation. Follow the prompts to pause for discussion or reflection.
3. Engage in conversation with young adults in your context. Consider these questions:
   1. What is your relationship with the church?
   2. How can the church better listen to/with young adults?
   3. What are your hopes for how the church engages with young adults?

**notice to viewers

The panelists in these videos do not consider themselves young adults. But they care deeply about young adults and how the church does/does not create space for young adults. The questions that the panelists are responding to were created by the young adult who is hosting the discussion, and who has done the editing and designing of the video series. We think it’s important as clergy in the ELCIC that we listen to and with young adults, but we also think it’s important to speak to our own experiences as and with young adults. This video series is not attempting to speak FOR young adults, but we hope that, as leaders in the ELCIC, we are advocating for ongoing attention, resources and avenues for young adults to bring their voice, vision and perspective to the mission of the church.

Each episode of this series has sub-sections around different topics. While we think that the whole episode is valuable, you may skim through and find a particular topic that connects with you. There are prompts within the episode to pause viewing and discuss: what are you hearing? How does the experience/perspective of the panelists match (or not) yours?

Our hope is that this series invites congregations to reflect on how we do/do not encourage young adults to be part of our faith communities. How attentive are we to our own experiences of the church as young adults, and how do those experiences inform our expectation of or perception of young adults today?

Watch this space for documents that accompany Episode 1

Transcription of Episode 1: Episode 1-What Drew You to the Church_Transcription

Sections within Episode 1:

• Church was a Place to Belong
• The Church Gave Me Opportunities
• Individuals and Mentors Came Alongside Me
• Church Allowed Exploration of Values and Beliefs
• Church Fostered Advocacy and Justice
• Church was a Multi-Generational Community

Watch this space for documents that accompany Episode 2

Transcription of Episode 2: Episode 2-Why We Should Listen_Transcription

Sections within Episode 2:

• We Need the Questions Young Adults Ask
• Young Adults Start Movements
• Young Adults are Part of the Body of Christ Today
• We Have a Faith Language We Want Young Adults to Hear

Watch this space for documents that accompany Episode 3

Transcription of Episode 3: Episode 3-Nurture Young Adults_Transcription-2

Sections within Episode 3:

• Demonstrate the Importance of Consistency
• Actively Support Young Adults
• Nurture Space for Engagement
• Make Ourselves Available in New and Different Ways
• Congregations as Communities of Diverse Perspectives
• Learn by Hearing First
• Be Honest About What We Don’t Know
• Demonstrate Authenticity
• Begin with Love, Not Shame
• Keep the Door Open

Watch this space for documents that accompany Episode 4

Transcription of Episode 4: Episode 4-Hopes for the Future_Transcription

Sections within Episode 4:

• Leading with Accompaniment
• Creating Multi-Generational Church
• Persistence and Patience
• Hopes for Young Adults Who Have Been Hurt by the Church
• Holding Space for Discovery and Discernment
• Final Thoughts

Closing Thoughts:

We hope this panel discussion infuses an ongoing conversation about how the ELCIC can continue to be a faith community that accompanies people within the church and not part of the church during the formative season of identity development called “young adulthood.”

You are welcome in this place. Your voice matters.