Asia
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Baptism in Sii Khiu Lutheran Church, Thailand © LWF/S. Lim |
The LWF communion in Asia includes 47 member churches in 18 countries, with a combined membership of 8.28 million at the end of 2007. Three churches have a membership over 500,000 and 25 churches have fewer than 25,000 members. There are ten member churches in India and twelve in Indonesia.
The Asia area desk (based in Geneva) supports the holistic ministries of member churches with programs and projects that respond to particular concerns of church life in the region and specific priorities identified by the member churches.
Regional Expression of Communion
One of the major tasks of churches in Asia is strengthening communion and collaboration among churches in a region with great diversity of culture, languages and economics. The regional expression of communion is a vital instrument for accompanying both established churches and young churches in their mission and growth.
To help strengthen the expression of Lutheran communion, the region has been divided into three sub-regions for practical purposes:
- North East Asian Lutheran Communion (NEALUC)
- West and South Asian Lutheran Communion (WeSALUC)
- South East Asian Lutheran Communion (SEALUC)
Click for a list of LWF member churches according to the three sub-regions. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
A regional office has been functioning in the region since 2000, based initially in Bangkok, Thailand, and relocated to Singapore in 2006.
Click for more information on the Regional Office in Asia.
Mission and Diakonia
Procession during the worship service on World Aids Day (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand). © LITE |
The Asia area desk convenes a biennial church leadership consultation for discussion of challenges and issues in holistic mission, and for sharing practical experiences. An LWF Consultation on Diakonia and Development in the Asian Context met in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2005 with the aim to help churches engage in prophetic diakonia as agents of transformation in their various contexts. A plan of action was adopted, addressing the challenges of diakonia in response to economic globalization, poverty, HIV and AIDS and other Asian social realities.
Click for the Message from the LWF Consultation on Diakonia and Development in the Asian Context. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Current challenges in mission include interfaith relationships in contexts where religion has significant impact on national and international politics, and the continuing tragedy of trafficking in women and children. The churches are challenged to raise awareness and to develop strategies to address these issues.
Strengthened Lutheran Inclusive Communion
Inclusive Communion © ELCT |
The biennial church leadership consultations include women and youth leaders as well as the heads of churches. These gatherings engage leadership issues such as styles of leadership and teamwork, transparency and accountability, and relevant contemporary structures.
Strengthening the Lutheran Communion in Asia
Worship Procession © LITE |
The Asia Church Leadership Conference, which took place in Lund, Sweden from 21 to 25 March 2007, established a 15 member Lutheran Council in Asia (LUCAS) for a six-year term. It replaces the Advisory Committee for Coordination of Regional Expression in Asia (ACCREA) and the Advisory Committee for Theological Education in Asia (ACTEAS). In establishing LUCAS, regional and gender balances were taken into consideration.
As an instrument of the Lutheran Communion in Asia, LUCAS will seek to strengthen Lutheran communion formation in the region and will undertake specific tasks on behalf of Asian member churches. It will coordinate regional efforts to meet the expressed needs of member churches in the region, such as holistic mission, diakonia, development, education, research in the areas of ecumenical theology and inter-faith relations.
Please click for the LUCAS Terms of Reference. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Response to the Southeast Asia Tsunami (December 2004)
Living with water - a fragile balance |
The Asia area desk provides support and accompaniment to member churches that are responding to the long-term needs after the devastating tsunami of 26 December 2004. In many countries and churches – especially in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka – the disaster continues to define the immediate challenges for mission and diakonia.
For further information please contact:
Area Secretary for Asia
Rev. Dr Ginda P. Harahap
E-mail: gh@lutheranworld.org
Administrative Assistant
Ms Margrit Keller
E-mail: mke@lutheranworld.org
