The opening worship is celebrated during the 13th LWF Assembly, held in Krakow, Poland, September 13-19, 2023, under the theme “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope” .
THE 13th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) concluded in Krakow, Poland, on September 19, with member churches pledging to strengthen ties among themselves, celebrate the gift of unity in diversity, and serve the neighbor, “knowing that the center is always Christ. »
In a message published, delegates to the week-long meeting of the LWF’s highest decision-making body say they are returning to their home countries “with a deeper sense of what it means to be churches in communion.” As reforming churches, they declare, “we are called to work for peace in the world, among peoples, countries and with all creation.”
Citing the assembly’s theme, “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope,” delegates affirm that they will “answer the call to live and walk together as Churches in ecclesial communion and confessing, testifying to our faith, in the holistic mission of God”.
They are committed to being more effective advocates for economic and climate justice at a time when bodies are suffering, discarded and excluded and the Earth is suffering the effects of climate emergencies.
The theological foundations and sustainability of Lutheran communion churches emerged as key topics of the assembly.
The theological foundations and sustainability of Lutheran communion churches emerged as key topics of the assembly. In the message, they emphasize the importance of stronger theological education and leadership training that allows people to approach complex questions without resorting to simplistic answers. “Responsible theology,” they write, “builds inclusive communities” and “provides space for the renewing and reforming power of the One Spirit.”
The assembly program included a visit to the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camps. In the message, Assembly delegates reaffirm the 1984 Assembly declaration that anti-Semitism is a contradiction and an affront to the Gospel. They express “an ongoing commitment to living out our Lutheran heritage in the Christian faith with love and respect for the Jewish people.”
The assembly noted that Christian churches in some parts of the world continue to face persecution and restrictions on freedom of expression because of their stances on justice and human rights. The message deplores such discrimination, wherever it occurs, and calls on the LWF to address this concern.
“Hope is the lens through which we view the world, as followers of Christ,” the delegates say. They affirm Lutherans’ participation in God’s holistic mission through proclamation, advocacy and diakonia both local and global. And they call on the communion of churches to find new ways to offer “bold hope inspired by our faith in God” and to serve people in need, including migrants, refugees and those affected by crises.
A new president and a new board
The assembly elected the Danish bishop Henrik Stubkjaer as the new president of the LWF. A theologian known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær was formerly head of the Diocese of Viborg within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.
“My vision for the LWF is that we achieve added value by working together as a communion striving to put the Christian faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness and dialogue,” Stubkjær said during the assembly. Noting that “being Lutheran must be contextualized,” he said the diversity found in different contexts reveals how “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, nourishes us as member churches…to preach the ‘Gospel in a relevant way’. Therefore, he added: “I will consider it my responsibility to ensure diversity and that all voices are heard. »
The assembly also elected the new LWF Councilan annual governing body made up of 48 representatives from communion member churches from around the world.
“God, through his Son Jesus Christ, encourages us as member churches…to preach the gospel in meaningful ways. »
The new advisors represent churches from the seven regions of the LWF: Asia (10 representatives), Africa (10), Central and Eastern Europe (five), Central and Western Europe (eight), Latin America and the Caribbean (four), Nordic countries (six). ) and North America (five).
Half of the new council members are women and 13 are youth delegates, in line with the LWF’s gender and generational inclusion policy which requires 40% men, 40% women and 20% youth in the governing bodies. The elected ELCA representatives were William Flippin Jr.registered minister; Khadija Islammember and Lutheran World Federation Young Global Reformer; Leila Ortiz, bishop of the Metropolitan Synod of Washington, DC; And Brad Wendelmember and co-chair of the former ELCA Working Group on Women and Justice: One in Christ.
Stubkjær was installed, alongside members of the new council, during the closing worship of the assembly on September 19. The first meeting of the new council under his leadership took place on September 20.
This story is adapted from articles that first appeared on Lutheranworld.org.
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