The crowd outside of the Superdome resembled Black Friday.

That’s the phrase used for the day after Thanksgiving. Shoppers crowd outside of malls in the wee hours of the morning for the door-opening bargains.

It was like that Saturday in New Orleans. Masses of Lutheran teens crowded around the doors of the ‘Dome hours before they were scheduled to open.

But the teens weren’t looking for bargains. They were standing in the blazing sun willingly for a chance at the best seats at a program all about Jesus.

“It’s like a concert,” explained Jack Pike, 18, of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Dana Point, Calif. “But it’s much more than that. There’s talks, skits and speakers. The kind of speakers that you want to listen to — who really get you to think about your values.” (more…)

Another popular bumper sticker in New Orleans.

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The 2009 Youth Gathering is over, and the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is only days away.

Many teens wondered if the harmony and goodwill generated from their work in New Orleans will be undone by dissension among the church’s adults in Minneapolis.

The denomination’s national assembly is Aug. 17-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Voting members of the ELCA may consider whether to allow gays and lesbians in committed partnerships to serve as clergy. The denomination presently allows for celibate gay and lesbian clergy.

Jenna Goldenne voiced what many teens at the Youth Gathering in New Orleans this week said about the issue.

“People should be able to love who they want,” said the 14-year-old Chicago area teen. “It shouldn’t matter if they are gay or straight. It’s not really an issue for people my age. ” (more…)

Meet Seth Moland-Kovash (standing), a funny and thoughtful pastor from All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine, Ill. He led a group of youth from the congregation to the 2009 Youth Gathering in New Orleans July 22-26. (more…)

Brittany Mata, 14, of Palatine, Ill., joined her youth group in prayer today at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans.

Mata was among the 37,000 youth and adults attending the 2009 Youth Gathering. The event was themed on “Jesus, Jazz and Justice.”

At the airport, Mata’s group prayed for justice and the people of New Orleans as they continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

The deadly hurricane struck the city four years ago and killed an estimated 1,100 people.

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Britney Lintner sported her new Youth Gathering headwear at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans today.

Lintner, 17, of Albany, N.Y., played cards while waiting for a flight home.

She was among the 37,000 youth and adults in New Orleans for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering.

She attends Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Albany.

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