2023 Youth Leadership Summit

**2023 YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT SURVEY**

Click the link above to provide your feedback for attending the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL.

 

The ELCA Youth Leadership Summit is an annual gathering for high school youth identified as leaders and an adult representative from each synod.

 

Announcing the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit!

Gathering under the theme of “Called on The Way”, Nov 2-5 at the ELCA Churchwide Office in Chicago, IL. Programming will begin at 6:30pm on Thursday, November 2 with registration/check-in beginning at 4pm. We plan to close by 11am on Sunday, November 5.

The Summit will empower and inspire young people within their congregations, communities, and synods to embrace their calling and become influential leaders beyond their current context. This year’s theme, “Called on The Way” focuses on exploring the unique journeys that individuals take in response to their calling and how these journeys shape their leadership abilities through Biblical narratives and alongside our many ELCA advocacy partners. Our theme verse for the weekend is John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Youth will be challenged to take home what they have learned and to inspire action and teach others what they learned in their own synods and youth groups.

Who attends? Two youth in grades 9-12 and one adult per synod are invited to attend. Synods are asked to pay attention to gender, ethnic and ability diversity when selecting youth leaders to participate.

All lodging, most meals, and programming are provided by a gracious grant from the ELCA. Your synod’s responsibility is to provide the flights for the two youth and one adult attending from your synod, one meal while youth and their adults explore the city, and any incidentals they might incur during their travels.

The Youth Leadership Summit is a ministry of the ELCA and partners with the Christian Community and Leadership Home Area, Discipleship and Inclusive Communities, the SYMBOL Network, the ELCA Youth Gathering, The Formation Co-Op, 65 Synods across the United States, ELCA Disability Ministries and ELCA Ethnic Specific Ministries.

Forms, Waivers, & Worship Bulletin

Please fill out and email these completed forms to youth@elca.org. 

2023 YLS Medical Form

2023 YLS Housing, Release of Liability and Agreement Form

2023 YLS Participant Schedule

Welcome Packet Summit 2023

Shuttle Instructions at O’Hare Airport

To find the shuttle, you will need to go to Terminal 1, Door 3 at O’Hare airport

    • Follow signs to Baggage Claim to retrieve your bags.
    • Follow signs to Bus/Shuttle Center and go down the escalator or elevator.
    • Continue following signs to Bus/Shuttle Center until you reach the Elevator Center.
    • Get on the elevator and select “Level Cubs” to go to the Bus/Shuttle Center
    • Go to Door 3 and wait outside for the Springhill Suites Chicago O’Hare shuttle.
      • If you aren’t flying into Terminal 1 (American Airlines, Southwest, etc.), take the Airport Transit System (ATS) to Terminal 1 and follow the signs to the Bus/Shuttle Center. When in doubt, ask someone!