Imagine More: Join the ECSW Youth Group for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering
Do you have young people who are excited about the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering but only have one or two interested youth? Good news! There’s a group for you. The Synod Youth Team of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin under the leadership of Christine Loppnow, Director of Youth Ministry at Christus Lutheran Church in Greenville, is creating a group to travel together to Minneapolis!
The ELCA Youth Gathering brings thousands of young people from across the country together every three years for worship, faith formation, service, and community. All youth currently in grades 8–12 are invited to participate in this incredible opportunity to experience the wider church, build friendships, and explore what it means to live out their faith. The 2027 Gathering’s theme, Imagine More, comes from Ephesians 3:20: “To God – whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.”
Participants can look forward to:
Worship that inspires: Youth-centered worship, engaging speakers, musicians, and evening Mass Gatherings that bring the whole church together.
Community that connects: Opportunities to meet young people from across the country, build friendships, and strengthen connections with others from our synod.
Faith in action: Hands-on learning, service experiences, and justice-centered opportunities that help young people connect faith with everyday life.
A new rhythm, the same Spirit: Interactive experiences and time together as a synod group, creating space for young people to grow, ask questions, and discover new possibilities.
You can find videos and other promotional material on the ELCA Gathering website.
Here are all the details for the synod group:
When: June 27–July 2, 2027
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Who: Youth currently in grades 8–12
Cost: Up to $1,800 per participant
Interest form and deposit deadline: November 24, 2026
Let us know by filling out this interest form (link forthcoming) and paying a $200 deposit to hold your spot.
The cost includes Gathering registration, hotel lodging, food, transportation, a service experience, and a T-shirt.
To ensure a safe, supportive, and well-proportioned experience for youth, we invite interested adult chaperones to submit an initial application via Google Forms. To maintain proper youth-to-adult ratios, our leadership team will review submissions and conduct brief interviews prior to confirming adult participants.
Please share this invitation with the young people and families in your congregation. We’d love to have them join us as we imagine more together! Questions? Contact youth@ecsw.org.
In Christ together,
Patty Koplitz and Christine Loppnow - Co-chairs
East Central Synod of Wisconsin Youth Ministry
