Preparing for the Thirteenth Assembly in Krakow

The LWF Women’s Pre-Assembly is a unique opportunity for women from member churches and partner organizations to meet and articulate a common voice for the Assembly. 

What are the struggles women face in the diverse contexts of member churches? How are women answering to call to vocation in ordained ministry? 

The Women’s Pre-Assembly will consider how we ensure the full and just participation of women in the life of church and society. 

It will enable participants to:  

• experience sisterhood and sorority, pray together, and support one other 
• celebrate life as One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, reflecting on the Assembly theme through a feminist perspective 
• build a shared vision that decisively shapes the discussions and decisions of the Assembly by highlighting women’s contribution to ministry, to the life of the church, and on theological reflection 
• harvest experiences and celebrate the building of gender justice in church and society 
• reflect on the report of the Study Process on the Experiences of Women in the Ordained Ministry 
• learn from each other, in connection with the Assembly theme, about ways to respond to gender-based violence, poverty, political, religious, and social polarization, and discrimination 
• contribute to helping the LWF Gender Justice and Women´s Empowerment Program better address the concerns of women in participants’ contexts over the coming years 
• shape the message from the Women’s Pre-Assembly to the Thirteen Assembly

• 2023 LWF Assembly

Preparing for the Thirteenth Assembly in Krakow

Investment in youth leadership is a call of the Gospel and has also been a central commitment of the LWF for decades.;

The youth pre-Assembly brings together LWF Assembly delegates who are 18-30 years old to worship, build community and capacity for participation in the Assembly, and to discuss LWF youth priorities. At the Assembly, the group will present those priorities. LWF Assembly stewards are also invited to attend the Youth Pre-Assembly.

• 2023 LWF Assembly

The LWF’s governing body between Assemblies is coming together for its annual meeting in 2014 under the theme, “Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water.”

Program highlights include

• President’s Address & Report from the General Secretary - Spotlight on activities and themes of the past year and future perspectives for the LWF.
• Keynote Panel on Interfaith Dialogue - A look at interfaith dialogue in Indonesia where 80 percent of the population is Muslim and 16 percent Christian. Both faith traditions will be represented on the panel.
• Reformation 2017 - Planning of programmatic work relating to the 2017 LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The churches of the LWF National Committee in Indonesia are hosting the Council 2014 meeting.

Council documents and decisions

The conference will provide theological reflection on the dynamics of religious renewal with scholars from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions.

Religions carry strong visions of renewal and thereby have the potential to trigger dynamics of change in all spheres of human life.

Theological perspectives on renewal are shaped by how religious communities conceive of God, God’s presence and God’s action.

Furthermore, renewal of religious identity is informed by how religious communities interpret past, present, and future challenges to themselves, society and the world.

In our time of intensified religious diversity we have an opportunity to explore together the meaning of religious renewal across religious traditions.

Department: Department for Theology and Public Witness

Program: Public Theology and Interreligious Relations

Language: English

“Freed by God’s love- to change the world” is the first virtual conference of the LWF Global Young Reformers Network (GYRN) and is being held on Reformation Day 2014.

Keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops will explore questions of Christian faith and Lutheran identity. Participants will be able to delve deeper in discussions in small groups.

Workshop topics include:

• Foundations of the LWF foundations
• Principle of youth participation
• Identity and diversity of the Lutheran communion
• Advocacy for climate justice
• And many more…

There will be an online Reformation Day worship service. A special highlight will be a virtual choir bringing together dozens of singers via the Internet.

Participants will have the opportunity to vote on GYRN priorities.

Speakers include Rev. Martin Junge, LWF General Secretary; Ms Eun-Hae Kwon, LWF Vice-President for the Asia region; GYRN Steering Committee members; and members of the LWF delegation to the Interfaith Summit on Climate Change and UN Climate Summit 2014 held in New York in September

Young reformers and other interested people throughout the world are invited to take part in this 3-hour, interactive online event.

The conference will be held in two time blocks to facilitate participation regardless of time zone. To take part, visit conference.youngreformers.net.

Department: Department for Mission and Development

Programs: Capacity for Advocacy – Youth Advocacy, Transformative Leadership and Good Governance - Youth Leadership and Youth Participation, Reformation 2017

Language: English

The church’s role in transforming societies will be the focal point of this year’s meeting of the three LWF regions in Europe (Central Eastern Europe, Central Western Europe, Nordic Countries).

The fifty-five participants include LWF Council members, representatives of National Committees, Women in Church and Society regional representatives and church ecumenical officers.

They will explore new models of being church today in light of the shift from churches in Europe being a leading ethical and social player to simply one of many civil society actors.

Topics include:

• new ways of networking
• perspectives of the church as a “guest” in society
• pilot projects aiming to strengthen church members’ faith identity
• diaconal outreach to young people and people in need
• missional outreach to young people

The European church leaders will consider regional follow-up to LWF women and gender programs and reflection on the self-understanding of the communion.

A panel, including Kurt Cardinal Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will focus on ecumenical preparations for the Reformation anniversary in 2017.

Through the host church Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy, the group will learn about contributions that a numerically small church can make to society.

Department: Department for Mission and Development - Europe Desk

Program: Relationships and Identity, Reformation 2017

Event series: Annual pan-European regional consultations

Language:  English

The European Diaconal Process seeks to advocate for and develop concepts for sustainable community diakonia. It works with the key concept of conviviality – the art and practice of living together. The needs for an economic model that sustains conviviality, justice and shares in solidarity are real. 

The workshop will analyze the impact of challenges from these areas on the practice of living together in conviviality, and in searching for a convivial form of economy. It will deepen analysis through biblical, theological and ethical reflection. Attention will be given to the LWF Reformation anniversary theme “Liberated by God’s Grace” and its sub-themes: Salvation, Human Beings and Creation - are not for sale.

Day 1:  Analysis

The first day is “Encountering Manchester”: thematic project visits, along the five themes:

• Debt & Indebtedness
• Migration
• Welfare & Work
• Corruption & Transperncy
• Environment & Creation (food, energy, water)

Day 2:  Reflection

The second day will be dedicated to reflection, including Bible and theological material.

Day 3:  Practice

On the last day, participants will focus on  “practice”: How to move ahead in 2015.   By establishing aims and goals, as well as collaborative and networking opportunities among participants, groups will share best practices, action plans beyond the workshop.

An outcome document will address collaboration with church and diaconal leadership in taking convivial economy further into diaconal work and community activities.

Department: Department of Mission and Development

Program: Capacity for Diakonia

Part of event series: LWF European Diaconal Process 2014-2016.

​Language:  English

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Members of the working group on the self-understanding of the LWF communion explore the theological significance of the concept of communion and its impact in relation to number of topics including: 

• Global dynamics
• Lutheran ecclesiological insights in relation to insights during the Reformation
• The concept of communion in the LWF’s bilateral dialogues
• The importance of linking autonomy and accountability in relations between churches
• The meaning of communion in a multireligious context; and the power dynamics between churches.

 At this, their second meeting, the members of the working group on the self-understanding of the communion will further reflect on the theological significance of the concept of communion and how living in a communion is understood within The Lutheran World Federation. Based on their previous reflections, which include a contribution by En Yu Thu, a member of the group until the end of 2014 and further discussions, the group will finalize a draft statement that will be presented to the LWF Council in June 2015 and, if approved, published in October 2015. 

Working Group Members

• Dr Minna Hietamäki
• Dr Guillermo Hansen
• Dr Allen Jorgenson
• Rev. AnnikaLaats
• Rev. Dr Hance A. O. Mwakabana
• Prof. Dr Elisabeth Parmentier

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As the Lutheran communion prepares for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 to be held in concert with the 12th assembly in Windhoek, Namibia, the Lutheran communion in Africa also will remember the 60th anniversary of the Marangu Conference.  

Held in 1955, the Marangu Conference was the first all Africa Lutheran conference, which led to the birth of the Lutheran communion in the region.

Under the LWF Reformation and Assembly sub-theme: "Liberated by God's Grace: Salvation not for sale, creation not for sale and human beings not for sale", the commemoration will gather 150 delegates representing all levels of the Lutheran communion - from heads of churches and representatives of theological institutions to women and young reformers.

Meetings and workshops aim to address visions on reforming and sustaining the church in Africa. 

Languages: English
 

During the Asia Church Leadership Consultation (ACLC), member churches and related organizations will gather to share information, exchange knowledge and collaborate through joint activities as part of regional expressions.