Every three years, thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the ELCA gather for a week of faith formation and fellowship known at the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through inspiring speakers, conversations with partners, Bible study and being immersed in the host city, young people will be inspired, challenged and called to live out their faith in their daily lives.
Additionally, young people will have opportunities to explore their vocation and discern where they are being called into this world. The 2027 Gathering theme is “Imagine More" based on Ephesians 3:20: To God – whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.
Themes
Imagine more love (Mark 4:35-41 — Jesus Calms the Sea)
Imagine more welcome (Matthew 9:9-13 — A Place at the Table)
Imagine more grace (Luke 15:11-32 — The Prodigal Son)
Imagine more joy (John 20:1-18 — Resurrection and Naming Mary)
Imagine more courage (John 4:1-42 — The Woman at the Well)
MYLE
The event is open to youth of color or whose primary language is not English. Applicants must be in eighth to 12th grade at registration.
the tAble
Youth who are 14 to 18 (or are engaged in a high school youth group or enrolled in high school or the vocational education equivalent), and live with a wide range of physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities are encouraged to attend the tAble.
Young Adult Gathering
In partnership with ELCA Young Adult Ministries, the ELCA Young Adult Gathering to individuals who will be 18 to 35 at the time of the Gathering.
Instead of Synod Champions, this year the Gathering is Our Gathering Regional Representatives are trained by the ELCA Youth Gathering staff and provide information and are available for questions from their respective Region's congregations about the Gathering.
Registration Timeline
Priority Registration opens Oct. 21, 2026
Priority registration closes November 11, 2026
Regular registration closes February 10, 2027
Late registration begins February 11, 2027
Late Registration closes March 17, 2027
We Want to go on to the Gathering...Now what?
Preparing for the Gathering looks like reading through the information available to you online, attending Gathering Information Sessions, reaching out to your Pastor Laura Sinche and/or your Regional Representative, and inviting others in your congregation to be responsible for different parts of the trip.
Go ahead and begin promoting the Gathering to your congregation. Talk to your students and parents, send some initial information home to families by text or email, share in any church publications and via social media. Make sure you talk with your council and staff about the Gathering - this will help you learn what questions and potential obstacles exist. Invite students who have attended previous Gatherings to share what their experience was like in person, or through a digital method.
1. Visit the Academy for training and resources. These include an info booklet, a PowerPOint Presentation Template to introduce the Gathering to your congregation, your youth and your adult leaders, budgeting resources, posters, webinar recordings and more.
2. Subscribe to gNews. You'll learn about upcoming webinars, deadlines for registrations and other helpful information.
Budgeting Template
Download the Budgeting Template
Find more info at the Academy
Transportation
If you are interested in traveling by bus to the Gathering, Pastor Cody Danner has offered to help coordinate travel. Please be in touch at cdanner@gracelc.org
Planning Resources for Congregational Leaders
Learn about MYLE, the tABLE, and SERVE, the pre-Gathering service component
Digital Media
Instagram:
Facebook:
TikTok:
YouTube: