The Church’s Response to Populism

How should churches respond to populism? Political leaders are gaining support by demanding closure of borders, and they claim to be the foremost defenders of Europe’s Christian heritage. What is the responsibility of local and national church leaders? How do we represent the inclusive nature of the church in society amidst a changing political landscape that is currently impacted by COVID-19?

This webinar aims to help prepare church leaders on all levels to guide their churches as they navigate these changing political landscapes. Our perspective will be mainly European, but we believe the discussions and theological reflections will have a broader global relevance.

Speakers:

• Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
• Luke Bretherton, Professor of theological ethics and senior fellow of the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University
• Simone Sinn, Professor of Ecumenical Theology at the Ecumenical Institute and programme executive for Faith and Order, World Council of Churches

Moderator:

• Sivin Kit, Program Executive for Public Theology and Interreligious Relations, Lutheran World Federation.

Organizers:

• Lutheran World Federation
• Church of Norway
• The think tank Skaperkraft

Zoom Registration

Related  publication

Resisting Exclusion - Global Theological Responses to Populism

An exploration of the diverse expressions and spirituality of Lutherans today

The first Wednesday of each month, you are invited to participate in "Being Lutheran", a monthly gathering for people across the Lutheran communion. This is an opportunity to connect with Lutheran sisters and brothers, and engage in the LWF study process on contemporary Lutheran identities. In this series, we will explore themes that emerged from the consultation in Addis Ababa, and explore the creative, vibrant, life-giving diversity of what it means to be Lutheran today. Each month will begin with a moment of prayer and spiritual reflection. We will welcome a speaker to present a topic, then break out for small group reflection and communion building among your Lutheran sisters and brothers from diverse regions and contexts around the globe.

Theme for July's Webinar:

• We will explore how we can perceive God's work in the world around us, and experience that presence of the Holy Spirit as a gift and a promise.

Speaker:

• Professor Niels Henrik Gregersen, from the University of Copenhagen
• Rev. Dr Beverly Wallace, Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care, Luther Seminary

Moderator:

• Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, Program Executive for Identity, Communion and Formation

Register for the Zoom webinar

Further information:

More on Lutheran Identities Study Process

See all the Being Lutheran - webinar series videos

Consultation report

Video: To be Lutheran is …

Being church in times of transformation

Online Conference

LWF member churches from Central & Eastern Europe, Central & Western Europe and the Nordic Countries meet online to strengthen regular exchange and cooperation, to decide on a follow-up to the resolutions of the Twelfth LWF Assembly and to prepare the next LWF Council meeting.

From the perspectives of their specific regional contexts they will discuss:

• The impact of the Corona crisis on the ministry of the churches
• Ongoing theological processes on Lutheran identity with particular attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the churches
• Being ‘Church in the Public Space’ in times of growing populism
• LWF Assembly in 2023

Due to the current situation of global pandemic, the consultation will take place online.

Nomination deadline: 31 May 2020

An exploration of the diverse expressions and spirituality of Lutherans today

The first Wednesday of each month, you are invited to participate in "Being Lutheran", a monthly gathering for people across the Lutheran communion. This is an opportunity to connect with Lutheran sisters and brothers, and engage in the LWF study process on contemporary Lutheran identities. In this series, we will explore themes that emerged from the consultation in Addis Ababa, and explore the creative, vibrant, life-giving diversity of what it means to be Lutheran today. Each month will begin with a moment of prayer and spiritual reflection. We will welcome a speaker to present a topic, then break out for small group reflection and communion building among your Lutheran sisters and brothers from diverse regions and contexts around the globe.

Theme for August’s Webinar: 

Forming and Informing:We will explore the importance of a transformative relationship between theological education and the spirituality of life together, as we cultivate faith. 

Speakers: 

• Rev Marcia Blasi, Faculdades EST, Brazil 
• Sister Nicole Grochowina, Communität Christusbruderschaft Selbitz 

Moderator: 

• Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, Program Executive for Identity, Communion and Formation 

Register for the Zoom webinar

Further information:

More on Lutheran Identities Study Process

See all the Being Lutheran - webinar series videos

Consultation report

Video: To be Lutheran is …

An exploration of the diverse expressions and spirituality of Lutherans today

The first Wednesday of each month, you are invited to participate in "Being Lutheran", a monthly gathering for people across the Lutheran communion. This is an opportunity to connect with Lutheran sisters and brothers, and engage in the LWF study process on contemporary Lutheran identities. In this series, we will explore themes that emerged from the consultation in Addis Ababa, and explore the creative, vibrant, life-giving diversity of what it means to be Lutheran today. Each month will begin with a moment of prayer and spiritual reflection. We will welcome a speaker to present a topic, then break out for small group reflection and communion building among your Lutheran sisters and brothers from diverse regions and contexts around the globe.

Theme for September’s Webinar: 

Our Indigenous and Lutheran traditions

Speakers: 

• Rev. Rebecca Maduli Kurubai, Maasai pastor and doctoral candidate at Tumaini University Makumira, Tanzania
• Ms Risten Turi Aleksandersen, General Secretary of the Sami Church Council
• Rev. Joann Conroy, President of the American Indian and Alaska Native Lutheran Association, Lakota Sioux Nation

Moderator: 

• Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, Program Executive for Identity, Communion and Formation 

Register for the Zoom webinar

Further information:

More on Lutheran Identities Study Process

See all the Being Lutheran - webinar series videos

Consultation report

Video: To be Lutheran is …

A Public Webinar

This webinar aims to help equip participants on all levels with theological and ethical perspectives to engage society as they respond to the current economic crisis in a time of inequality, pandemic and climate change.

Speakers:

• Prof. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda (USA)
• Professor of social and theological ethics at the Pacific Lutheran University. She authored the book Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological-Economic Vocation. She has lectured extensively on globalization, environmental racism, and faith-based resistance to systemic injustice.
• Rev. Dr Allan Aubrey Boesak (South Africa)
• Black Theologian, liberation and anti-apartheid activist. He is known for his book Farewell to Innocence, and for his significant work against racism in South Africa alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

Organizers:

• Lutheran World Federation
• Council of World Mission
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• World Council of Churches

Zoom registration

An exploration of the diverse expressions and spirituality of Lutherans today

The first Wednesday of each month, you are invited to participate in "Being Lutheran", a monthly gathering for members of the Lutheran World Federation. This is an opportunity to connect with Lutheran sisters and brothers, and engage in the LWF study process on contemporary Lutheran identities. In this series, we will explore themes that emerged from the consultation in Addis Ababa, and explore the creative, vibrant, life-giving diversity of what it means to be Lutheran today. Each month will begin with a moment of prayer and spiritual reflection. We will welcome a speaker to present a topic, then break out for small group reflection and communion building among your Lutheran sisters and brothers from diverse regions and contexts around the globe.

Theme for October’s Webinar: 

Spirituality: we will reflect on the Spirit and the presence of God’s Spirit in word, sacraments, liturgy as performative theology and dialogical aesthetics, Lutheran mysticism and the spirituality of daily life

Speakers: 

• Being confirmed

Moderator: 

• Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, Program Executive for Identity, Communion and Formation 

Register for the Zoom webinar

Event languages: English (translation into Spanish, French or German as available) 

Further information:

More on Lutheran Identities Study Process

See all the Being Lutheran - webinar series videos

Consultation report

Video: To be Lutheran is …

Global responses to religious nationalism

In recent years, political leaders increasingly use religious symbols and language to gain support from voters. Faith is no longer confined to the private sphere, but now has taken on a public expression. What is the responsibility of faith leaders at a local and national level? How can we collaborate with like-minded citizens and support government initiatives that promote a more inclusive society?

This webinar aims to support religious leaders, concerned citizens of all faiths and traditions to respond constructively to religious nationalism. The webinar will focus on the rise of nationalism associated with versions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. The webinar would bring three perspectives to draw on insights from India, Indonesia, and the United States of America, but we believe the discussions and reflections will have global relevance. 

Speakers: 

• Sathianathan Clarke, the Bishop Sundo Kim Chair in World Christianity and Professor of Theology, Culture, and Mission at Wesley Theological Seminary. Author of Competing Fundamentalisms: Violent Extremism in Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism 
• Dicky Sofjan, Core Doctoral Faculty in the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), the Principal Investigator for a nine-country program entitled "Religion, Public Policy and Social Transformation in Southeast Asia" 
• Angela Denker, Lutheran Pastor, writer, speaker. Author, Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump 

Moderator: 

• Sivin Kit, Program Executive for Public Theology and Interreligious Relations, Lutheran World Federation. 

Closing Remarks: 

• Kathryn Lohre, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment. 

Organizers: 

• Lutheran World Federation 
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  
• Indonesia Consortium for Religious Studies

Register for the Zoom webinar

Registration deadline: 21 September 2020

Zacchaeus Tax and Jubilee Now! GEM School 2020

This webinar will explore how taxation, reparations and debt cancellation could contribute to shaping an Economy of Life in the current landscape, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, widening socio-economic inequalities and a burgeoning climate emergency. The event will offer faith-rooted and gender-just perspectives, as well as share concrete proposals as part of the ecumenical #ZacTax and Jubilee campaigns.

Speakers: 

• Dr Manuel ‘Butch’ Montes is from the Philippines and lives in the USA. He works with the Society for International Development and is a member of the Ecumenical Panel on a New International Financial and Economic Architecture.
• Rev. Suzanne Membe Matale is from Zambia. She is a tax justice activist, a pastor, and a commissioner of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation.
• Rev Dr Iva Carruthers is from the USA. She is the General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference.
• Rev James Bhagwan is from Fiji. He presently serves as the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches.

Organizers:

• World Council of Churches
• World Communion of Reformed Churches
• Council for World Mission
• Lutheran World Federation

Register for the Zoom webinar

Registration deadline: 13 September 2020

Learning from young people of faith acting for climate

25 September is the Global Day of Climate Action. For this day, The Lutheran World Federation will host a Season of Creation webinar on the topic of Prophetic Voices for Climate Action. Ecumenical youth from around the globe will gather to share their experiences of climate action.

We will hear from:

• Charles Bakolo Mvula, Coordinator of Renew our World from the Green Anglicans,
• Luiz Filip Fialho and Daniel Dos Santos Lima, Brazilian activists from the Manaus Anglican Community,
• Kelly Sherman-Conroy, a Lakota-Sioux theologian studying at Luther Seminary, and
• Aaron Salzman from the Catholic Divestment Network and Laudato Si’ Generation.

Register for the Zoom webinar

Event languages: English (translation into Spanish) 

Follow live on Youtube

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, streaming has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Event live-streaming language: English ) 

Many churches in the ecumenical family observe the “Season of Creation” (also known as Creation Time) between 1 September and 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, as observed by some Western traditions. For the Lutheran communion, this liturgical season of prayer and action is an opportunity to affirm LWF’s commitment to address a central crisis of our time – climate change. “Jubilee for the Earth” is the 2020 theme for the “Season of Creation”.

Season of Creation videos

LWF Season of Creation page

Jubilee for the Earth: Season of Creation 2020 Celebration Guide