Imagine More: First Look at the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has released the first official videos introducing the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, offering an early glimpse into a formative, faith-filled experience for youth, young adults, and leaders across the church. The Gathering will take place June 28–July 2, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Held every three years, the ELCA Youth Gathering is more than a large-scale event—it is a movement of faith formation, bringing together thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders for worship, learning, service, and community grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The theme for 2027, “Imagine More,” invites young people to expand their vision of what God is doing in the world and how they are called to participate—imagining more justice, more belonging, more courage, and more hope for the church and the world.
Three New Videos Now Available
Three newly released videos introduce the heart and scope of the 2027 Gathering:
Imagine More | 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering
A high-energy overview of the Gathering, highlighting a week of faith formation, learning, and connection in Minneapolis—the city by nature.
Why the Gathering | 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering
A reflection on why the Gathering matters—not simply as an event, but as a life-shaping experience that forms young people in faith, service, and leadership.
Why MYLE + the tAble | 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering
An introduction to two vital pre-events:
Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE): A space where young people honor culture, share stories, and grow as leaders through worship, small groups, and interactive learning.
the tAble: A pre-event for youth living with disabilities and their caregivers, celebrating each person’s gifts and affirming that all belong fully in the body of Christ.
Together, these videos underscore the ELCA’s commitment to inclusion, leadership development, and multicultural ministry, reflecting our Lutheran understanding that God’s grace is for all and that every person is called into the life of faith.
Looking Ahead in the Grand Canyon Synod
While registration details and synod-specific information will be shared in the future, now is an ideal time for congregations, rostered ministers, youth leaders, and families to begin imagining participation in 2027—including youth groups, adult leaders, MYLE participants, young adults, and caregivers.
Additional information about the ELCA Youth Gathering, MYLE, the tAble, and the Young Adult Gathering can be found at elca.org/Gathering.
More updates will be shared as planning continues. For now, we invite you to watch the videos, share them within your congregation, and begin to Imagine More.