The Lutheran World Federation

Department for Theology and Studies

Theology and the Church
Past Programs

Leadership and Power in the Ministry of the Church

There are many questionable if not controversial ways in which leadership and power are exercised in churches. This often simmers beneath the surface, without being discussed or addressed openly.

The 28-page booklet Leadership and Power in the Ministry of the Church [Please click to order. Free of charge, postage and packing costs for bulk orders] is intended to stimulate reflection and discussion in churches, in light of central biblical and theological understandings. It draws upon key biblical perspectives, as well as Lutheran confessional understandings, such as the relation between the relation between the priesthood of all believers and ordained ministry.

How can power and leadership be exercised in ways that are consistent with what the church preaches and teaches? Questions encourage readers to apply these understandings to their own situations.

The booklet can be downloaded here.   

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The Authority of the Bible in the Life of the Church

Rev. Manmasih Ekka, India, leads worship. © LWF/S. Sinn

The Bible is central in all churches. In the Lutheran tradition, the Bible is considered the authoritative norm for preaching, teaching and living out the faith. Given that the way in which we listen to, read and interpret the Bible is shaped by our personal context and life experiences, we may reach different conclusions and results as we apply the Bible to particular issues. This poses a problem for a communion of churches which base their faith and teaching on the same Bible, share a confessional tradition, and consider themselves called to a common witness in the world.

How do we interpret what we hear when we listen to the Bible? How can we make sure of what the Bible is actually saying rather than having it say what we want to hear? How can we meaningfully communicate within a communion of churches despite our different ways of understanding the Bible?

Witnessing to God's Faithfulness: Issues of Biblical Authority brings together a set of articles written by a study team in response to such questions. [CHF 18, USD 15, Euro 12, plus postage and packing. To order, please click here.]

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The Diaconal Ministry in the Lutheran Churches

A malnourished 21-year-old woman receives treatment at the Wanyerukula Nutrition Center near Kisangani, DRC.
© Diakonisches Werk/R. Schlott

"The Diaconal Ministry in the Lutheran Churches" was the focus of an international consultation in October 2005, in São Leopoldo, Brazil. It served as a forum to discuss experiences with diaconal ministry and identify key elements of an understanding of the diaconal ministry of deacons and deaconesses that is solidly grounded in the Bible, in line with the Lutheran Reformation and open to different contexts.

The Diaconal Ministry in the Mission of the Church contains the presentations and statement from the consultation. [CHF 12, USD 10, Euro 8, plus postage and packing. To order, please click here.] The statement of the consultation is available for download in English, German, Portuguese and Spanish.   

For further information, please contact Rev. Dr Martin Sinaga