Who We Are
 Chinese artwork used on the LWF Ninth Assembly poster |
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world representing over 68.6 million Christians.
For more information on the new LWF member churches please click here.
Doctrinal Basis
The LWF confesses the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the only source and norm of its doctrine, life and service. It sees in the three Ecumenical Creeds and in the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, especially in the unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism of Martin Luther, a pure exposition of the Word of God.
LWF member churches confess the triune God, agree in the proclamation of the Word of God, and are united in pulpit and altar fellowship. The LWF confesses one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church and is resolved to serve Christian unity throughout the world. It acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as communication, ecumenical and interfaith relations, human rights, humanitarian assistance, theology, and the various aspects of mission and development.
The highest decision-making body of the LWF is its Assembly, which is normally held every six years. Between Assemblies the LWF is governed by a Council, which convenes once every 12 to 18 months, and by its Executive Committee, which also serves as the LWF Board of Trustees and LWF Personnel Committee. The Council comprises the President, the Treasurer and 48 members to be elected by the Assembly.
The location of the LWF General Secretariat in the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, Switzerland, ensures close cooperation with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and other Christian world communions, as well as international secular organizations.
The LWF President
is:
Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The LWF
General Secretary is:
Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Zimbabwe
