Lutheran World Federation Information
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the many differing Lutheran churches. Since 1984, the member churches are in pulpit and altar fellowship, with common doctrine as the basis of membership and mission activity. But in fact Baltic church bodies as Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia are not in full church fellowship with those LWF member church bodies who practice ordinations and marriages of homosexuals, looking on LWF more as a forum of discussions for Lutherans.
The LWF now has 140 member church bodies in 78 countries representing 66.7 million of the world's 70.2 million Lutherans.[1] However, some Lutherans disagree with the way the Lutheran World Federation arrives at these numbers, because millions of them are actually non-Lutherans inside bodies that are mostly Reformed, but include some Lutherans as part of an absorption of a smaller Lutheran church body into a larger Protestant body. These larger Protestant bodies belong to the LWF on the basis of a Lutheran component rather than on the basis of being a Lutheran church body. [2] The state churches of Iceland, Denmark and Norway and the former state churches, today majority churches of Sweden and Finland, are among its members. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
The Department for World Service (DWS) is the LWF's humanitarian agency. It has programs in 37 countries. LWF through DWS is a member of ACT Development.
Lutheran University Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the publisher of and North American distributor of the LWF English language books.
On October 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany, the Lutheran World Federation signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Roman Catholic Church. The statement is an attempt to narrow the theological divide between the two faiths. The Declaration also states that the mutual condemnations between 16th century Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church no longer apply.
The largest member churches are (with number of members in millions; 2008 statistics):
- Church of Sweden (6.75)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (5.3)
- Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (5.3)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (4.6)
- Church of Denmark (4.5)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (4.5)
- Protestant Christian Batak Church, Indonesia (4.2)
- Church of Norway (4.0)
- Malagasy Lutheran Church (3.0)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Germany (3.0)
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Federation Officials
- Munib Younan, President
- Ishmael Noko, General Secretary
- Chandran Paul Martin, Deputy General Secretary
President
The President is the Federation's chief official representative and spokesperson. He/she presides at meetings of the Assembly, Council and Executive Committee, and oversees the life and work of the Federation in consultation with the Treasurer and General Secretary.[3]
General Secretary
The Lutheran World Federation Council elects the General Secretary, who is appointed for a seven-year term. The person appointed is eligible for re-election.The General Secretary conducts the business of the Federation assisted by a Cabinet, comprising department and unit heads appointed by the Council, and carries out the decisions of the Assembly and Council.[4]
Deputy General Secretary
The Deputy General Secretary heads the Office for Planning and is responsible for meetings of the Lutheran World Federation Council, Executive Committee and the Cabinet. The Deputy General Secretary deputizes for the General Secretary and carries specific administrative leadership functions in the Lutheran World Federation Secretariat.[5]
Members
Sorted by country in alphabetical order
- Angola
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola
- Argentina
- Evangelical Church of the Rio de la Plata
- United Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Australia
- Lutheran Church of Australia - associate member
- Austria
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria
- Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Lutheran Church
- Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Belarus
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Belgium
- Lutheran Church of Belgium - Arlon and Christian Mission
- Bolivia
- Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- German-Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia
- Botswana
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana
- Brazil
- Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
- Cameroon
- Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
- Canada
- Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
- Central African Republic
- Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic
- Chile
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
- Lutheran Church in Chile
- China (Hong Kong SAR)
- Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church
- Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong
- Colombia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia
- St Matthew's Lutheran Congregation
- St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation
- Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo
- Costa Rica
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
- Lutheran Costarican Church
- Croatia
- Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Salvadoran Lutheran Synod
- Eritrea
- Evangelical Church of Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of France
- Malagasy Protestant Church in France
- Ghana
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
- Georgia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Germany
- Church of Lippe (Lutheran Section)
- Evangelical Church in Central Germany
- Evangelical Church of Pomerania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg
- Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe
- Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
- North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Guatemala
- The Epiphany Lutheran Congregation
- Guyana
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
- Hungary
- Honduras
- Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras
- Iceland
- India
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Arcot Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
- Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- North-Western Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
- South Andhra Lutheran Church
- Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Indonesia
- Batak Christian Community Church
- Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias
- Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
- Christian Protestant Angkola Church
- Indonesian Christian Church
- Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church
- Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church
- Protestant Christian Batak Church
- Protestant Christian Church
- Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai
- Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
- United Protestant Church
- Ireland
- Italy
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy
- Japan
- Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Japan Lutheran Church - associate member
- Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jordan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
- Kazakhstan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Kenya
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
- Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Korea, South
- Lutheran Church in Korea
- Kyrgyztan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Lutheran Church in Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi
- Malaysia
- Basel Christian Church of Malaysia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
- Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore
- Protestant Church in Sabah
- Mexico
- German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico
- Mexican Lutheran Church
- Mozambique
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar
- Namibia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN - GELC)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope
- Nigeria
- Lutheran Church in Nigeria
- The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Norway
- Palestine
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
- Peru
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
- Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Lutheran Church in the Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania
- Russia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia
- Rwanda
- Lutheran Church of Rwanda
- Senegal
- Lutheran Church of Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Lutheran Church in Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia
- South Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T)
- Moravian Church in South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Lutheran Church of Taiwan
- Taiwan Lutheran Church
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand
- Ukraine
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- United Kingdom
- Lutheran Church in Great Britain
- The Lutheran Council of Great Britain
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Evangelical Church of the Rio de la Plata
- United Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Uzbekistan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Venezuela
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela
- Zambia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe
Presidents of LWF
- 1947 - 1952 Anders Nygren (Sweden)
- 1952 - 1957 Hanns Lilje (Federal Republic of Germany)
- 1957 - 1963 Franklin Clark Fry (United States)
- 1963 - 1970 Fredrik A. Schiotz (United States)
- 1970 - 1977 Mikko Juva (Finland)
- 1977 - 1984 Josiah M. Kibira (Tanzania)
- 1984 - 1987 Zoltán Káldy (Hungary)
- 1987 - 1990 Johannes Hanselmann (Federal Republic of Germany)
- 1990 - 1997 Gottfried Brakemeier (Brazil)
- 1997 - 2003 Christian Krause (Germany)
- 2003 - 2010 Mark S. Hanson (United States)
- 2010 - Present Munib Younan (Palestine)
See also
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Lutheran World Federation |
- World Council of Churches
- Asia Lutheran Communion and Asia Lutheran News (ALN)
- Africa Lutheran Communion
References
- ^ Hanson, Mark S. (September 2006). "Why LWF matters". The Lutheran ((The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)): p. 58. http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article_buy.cfm?article_id=6071.
- ^ For more information on this, see William Schumacher, "Theological Observer: How Many Lutherans?", Concordia Journal April 2005, http://www.csl.edu/CJApril05.pdf/
- ^ http://www.lutheranworld.org/Who_We_Are/LWF-President.html
- ^ http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/GS/LWF-General_Secretary.html
- ^ http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/GS/DGS-Welcome.html
External links
Categories: International bodies of Protestant denominations | Lutheranism | Lutheran organizations | Religious organizations established in 1947
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