As the cover indicates, this issue’s feature offers a recap on the 2025 National Convention that took place in July. I am currently in the process of piecing that together and took a break to write this instead. While this feature will present general insight into the proceedings and events of convention, I would like to take a minute to share a few of my thoughts as I reflect on my experience at the gathering.
As many of you know (or at least likely suspect), I am a young adult. This convention had the largest number of young delegates and was also the closest that the ELCIC has come to achieving its goal of having a minimum of 20 per cent of the delegation being under the age of 30. I was not a delegate, so my experience naturally differs from theirs, but when reflecting on the theme of Rejoicing in Hope, what is most palpable for me, where I was finding and celebrating hope the most, was in witnessing the sheer amount of young adult leadership and voice that this church has, presently. The under-30 delegation was a powerhouse group: an extremely vocal, inspiring and passionate body; their presence and impact at the gathering was significant.
The church is still very much in the process of learning how to hold space for young adult voices in today’s landscape, and meeting us where we are at, but seeing and hearing the presence of such a vibrant and sizeable young adult delegation at convention, along with the amount of zealous support from other delegates (especially during debate and discussion on various motions), invigorated my spirit. Young adult leadership and voice is very much present —at this national level, as affirmed at convention, as well as the congregational level, regional level, synodical level. There’s much to uplift, and I know it’s just as inspiring for everyone else, of every age. It was said many times at convention: young people are not just the future of the church, they are the church, presently.
So, I think that it’s important for us to specifically uplift their experiences and take-aways when having this wider post-convention reflection and dialogue, which is why I’m making an effort to uplift their commentary in this post-convention feature, wherever possible. A call for radical change echoed fervently throughout convention, and the scope of the urgent desire for it was evident in the proceedings and conversations of the gathering. How we choose to receive, frame and contextualize happenings and information, is a part of creating change that is radical, tangible and sustainable. So, intentional focus on elevating the voices of the under-30 delegation when contextualizing National Convention is a small way in which we can hold space on a national level for their leadership, dedication and hope for the ELCIC, as we continue to move along the path of reformation, prayerfully and intentionally.
That said, being at convention and getting the opportunity to meet some of you in person, chat about the magazine and its direction, and learning more of your stories and more about what is happening in your congregations across the country was such a blessing, and I’m so grateful. This magazine is meant to uplift stories in this church and it is a tool of connection on the national level, to foster deeper connection and fellowship across the expansive land of Turtle Island that we call home. Being a caretaker of your stories is a responsibility I don’t take lightly and want to do to the best of my ability. It is always my hope that the magazine can represent the ELCIC, its people, and its happenings to its fullest ability. So please continue to share your stories, thoughts and ideas with your synod editor, and/or with me (editor@elcic.ca), so that we are able to uplift them!
And, if you have feedback on how the magazine can be re-imagined to better uplift and represent our church, I invite you to fill out this survey: https://form.jotform.com/ELCIC/2025-canada-lutheran-reader-survey .
Sarah Malina
Editor
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