Lutheran church leaders discern together about leadership and learn from each other

Bishops and presidents from LWF’s regions discern and learn together about the communion’s work, the role of individual church leaders and how to support one another.

The 2018 retreat of recently-elected leaders brings together heads of churches—bishops and presidents—from across the LWF regions, and is the fourth in a series that begun in 2015. Through presentations, group discussions and visits to other organizations in Geneva and Wittenberg, the participating heads of churches, synods or dioceses will discern together and learn about:

• The role of individual church leaders in a global communion
• How to support one another
• How to re-think the Reformation for today
• What it means to be a member of the LWF

LWF staff will talk about programmatic work based in Geneva and Wittenberg.

Locations:

• 18 to 22 November - GENEVA, Switzerland

• 23 to 27 November - WITTENBERG, Germany

‘Reformation in Progress – The Relevance of Reformation Today’

Women and men from all regions of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) take part in the second LWF seminar for lay people in church leadership positions, from 9 to 18 August at the LWF Center in Wittenberg, Germany, and at the Ecumenical Centre, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Non-ordained leaders of LWF member churches have the opportunity to study Lutheran theology at historical sites of the Reformation and to experience the communion of churches worldwide.

The participants learn about Lutheran theology and the LWF, and their identity as Lutheran Christians in their respective countries is strengthened.

Location:

• LWF Center in Wittenberg (Germany)
• Ecumenical Centre in Geneva (Switzerland)

The Lutheran Communion in Central and Eastern Africa (LUCCEA) 6th General Assembly

The General Assembly of LWF member churches in the LUCCEA sub-region takes place every four years. It brings together heads of churches, youth and women representatives.

The meeting will receive various reports from the LUCCEA member churches and the Nairobi-based sub-regional office. Participants will engage in discussion on the theme, keynote message, and receive greetings from the LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge. They will also reflect on the LWF 2019-2024 Strategy and identify ways of linking it to the program plans in the sub-region. New LUCCEA officials, Board of Trustees & Auditor, will be elected.

Theme: “Rediscovering Our Unity Interdependency and Diversity as Christ’s Body” I Cor. 12:12

Department: Department for Mision and Development

Languages: English and French( assisted by whispering interpreter)

DMD Africa

The Africa sub-regions are platforms for close cooperation and dialogue, for building communion and strengthening common understanding among member churches as well as opportunities for joint initiatives in holistic mission. The sub regions also help in fostering spaces for reconciliation when needed and accompanying emerging churches. It is a space for wider relations in the LWF communion and ecumenical movement.

LWF member churches and funding partners gathering

Since its founding, the LWF has relied on the faithful and generous financial support of some member churches and other church-related organizations. These partners meet each year to review the LWF’s work, understand the current priorities and agree the working relationship for the forthcoming year. With the approval of the new LWF strategy by the council in the summer, this is a key opportunity to present it to partners.

The focus for February in particular will be to update partners on the work of the LWF, engage partners in the LWF new strategy and operational implications and to review the LWF-partner Strategic Agreements.

At this meeting, partners will also have the opportunity to share their own organizational plans and priorities.

LWF Strategy 2019 – 2024

The Lutheran World Federation's Youth Pre-Council meeting takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 12 June 2019, the day before the LWF's Council meeting. The meeting prepares young Council members for their work in the Council, giving space to share experiences, learn about developments in related programmatic areas, and giving space for strategic planning so that generational concerns are featured in the Council deliberations and, consequently, in the overall work of the LWF.

Department: Department for Mission and Development

Program: Youth

More information:

LWF Youth

Council 2019

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Resources

Council 2019 documents 5 June 2019 Download exhibits and other Council 2019 related documents Department for World Service Report of the LWF Youth Pre-Assembly 2017 22 January 2018 Report of the LWF Twelfth Youth Pre Assembly, Ondangwa, Namibia, 03–09 May 2017. Department for Mission and Development (until 2019) Youth Who Made the Lutheran Communion 29 November 2017 Testimonies and stories from 1947 to 2017 Department for Mission and Development (until 2019) LWF Supports Migrant Children Deported by U.S. to Central America 2 October 2014 Assistance to unaccompanied children and adolescents facing an uncertain future includes food, psychological support, social programs, water, personal hygiene and basic medicines kits Department for World Service

Women of the LWF Council have historically gathered to build a platform to engage and share wisdom with the Communion work related to gender justice and the women’s network.

This is the third meeting of the full Council elected in the Assembly (2017-2023), therefore the aim is to follow up on Assembly resolutions, including experiences of women in the ordained ministry, Gender Justice Policy implementation, efforts to overcome gender discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence and tools for women in leadership positions in the member churches.

The council women are key leaders in building bridges between the women in the networks and the decision making body, namely, the LWF Council. A panel open also to men in the Council, will close this program on June 12.

Departments:Department for Theology and Public Witness with the Office of the General Secretary

Program: Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment

More information:

LWF Women in Church and Society

Council 2019

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Resources

Council 2019 documents 5 June 2019 Download exhibits and other Council 2019 related documents Department for World Service Women Advocacy Handbook 3 April 2019 A composition of articles that aims to strengthen the churches and FBOs capacity to advocate for women’s human rights from a faith perspective. The Participation of Women in the Ordained Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches 29 March 2017 A baseline assessment among LWF member churches carried forward in 2016 on the proportion of women in decision-making positions and in the ordained ministry. Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) LWF Gender Justice Policy 15 February 2017 An LWF framework for inclusive and sustainable communities, churches and programs throughout the global communion Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019)

The theme of this year’s Council will be: Because we know God’s voice (from John 10:4).

The Lutheran World Federation's annual governance meeting takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 18 June 2019. On 12 June the LWF Executive Committee will meet and a Pre-Council meeting for women and youth will take place.

The LWF Council meets once a year and is responsible for LWF business between Assemblies. It consists of:

• the President
• the Chairperson of the Finance Committee
• 48 lay or ordained people, from LWF member churches in seven regions.

Members of this Council were appointed at the 2017 Twelfth Assembly.

More information:

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LWF Council News

Young Lutherans raise concerns at Council 2019 21 June 2019 GENEVA Call to act on climate-related crises, religious and political injustice 19 June 2019 GENEVA, Switzerland Ecumenical guests laud LWF’s commitment to Christian dialogue 18 June 2019 GENEVA, Switzerland UN endorses LWF work for Development Goals 18 June 2019 GENEVA, Switzerland

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Resources

Council 2019 documents 5 June 2019 Download exhibits and other Council 2019 related documents Department for World Service

Youth Pre-Council 2019

Women Pre-Council 2019

Executive Committee 2019

UN Commission on the Status of Women – Parallel event

How do communities of faith promote dignity, justice, and social protection?

Join us for conversation with churches from Colombia, Liberia, Tanzania and the United States as we raise awareness and partner together for positive change.

“Waking the Giant” is a global ecumenical initiative designed to build the capacity of churches to contribute effectively to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Preliminary program:

• What is Waking the Giant? Introduction to the global initiative
• Agenda 2030 as an opportunity for convening Churches to jointly promote dignity, justice and service – the examples of Colombia and Liberia
• Churches working together to achieve SDG5 – the example of Tanzania
• Churches and Agenda 2030 in the Global North – the example of the United States
• Questions and answers

Waking the Giant

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LWF News

Germany: “17 Weeks, 17 Goals” online campaign on the UN Sustainable Development Goals 17 January 2022 NEUENDETTELSAU, Germany/GENEVA New SDGs training manual for faith-based actors 24 August 2021 GENEVA, Switzerland Churches are key partners for UN’s 2030 Agenda 7 July 2021 GENEVA, Switzerland Peacebuilding a priority for post-pandemic world 21 September 2020 GENEVA, Switzerland

The Asia Lutheran Identity Seminar seeks to fulfill TWO main objectives this year:

• At the Asian Church Leaders Consultation 2017 (Manila), the majority of the member churches in Asia stated that one of their ministry priorities is facing up to the challenges brought about by the Pentecostal and charismatic movements within their countries. These ‘renewal’ movements pose a serious challenge to their own Lutheran faith, and have deeply affected their churches. Therefore, this year’s ALIS aims to seek a deeper understanding on the third article, “We believe in the Holy Spirit” by exploring how the person and the work of Holy Spirt forms our Lutheran identity.
• ALIS 2019 will be a preparation for our Asian participants for the global conference on perspectives on contemporary Lutheran identity, to be held in Addis Ababa in October 2019. The study materials for the global conference will form the basis for the Asian seminar in Hong Kong.

Invitation: By invitation only

Language: English

Department: Department for Mission and Development

Rethinking Holistic Mission in Africa Today

The LWF member churches in Africa have started the process of engaging with implementation of the LWF Strategy 2019-2014 in the region.

The consultation provides a platform for church leaders to discuss the churches’ role in the LWF communion journey towards 2024 and the future. The prospects and challenges of mission on the continent today will feature prominently in the gathering.

Participants to the consultation will deepen their understanding engaging in holistic mission together in the communion. Thematic areas of engagement to the LWF Strategy at member church and regional level are agreed.

The 120 participants include heads of churches, Lutheran Council in Africa members, representatives of women, youth, theological education institutions, diaconal actors and communication networks.

LWF Africa

Invitation: By invitation only

Language: English and French-whispering

Department: Department for Mission and Development