The LWF study document “The Church in the Public Space” is an invitation to LWF’s member churches to claim public engagement as a vital element of what it means to be Lutheran. It calls for churches to be committed to strengthening public space “as a just place,” where all people have equal access to common goods and political decision-making processes. Such a place should ensure safety—especially for the vulnerable— and the meaningful participation of all groups of society.

Lutherans are committed to five key activities in the public space: assessing public issues in participatory ways; building relationships of trust; challenging injustice; discovering signs of hope; and empowering people in need.

The text underlines the LWF’s commitment to see its churches become part of networks that build solidarity. It notes that the Lutheran emphasis on the distinction between the worldly and spiritual realms calls on churches to proclaim God’s liberating grace as an essential mark of the church and one of its important contributions to the public space.

Languages: English (2nd edition, 2021), German (2nd edition, 2021), Spanish (2nd edition, 2021), French (1st edition, 2021), Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Swahili