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Faith in Action
Mission
READ MORE: Mission
From its very beginning, Christian mission has been holistic, modeled by the example of the mission of Jesus, who preached the Word, cared for the needy, and defended the excluded. Our understanding of holistic mission therefore includes the dimensions of proclamation, service or diakonia, and advocacy.
Mission belongs to God and the church is called to participate in God’s mission. By its nature, the church is missional, profoundly marked by God’s grace and the good news that gives hope and future for all humanity.
The LWF as a communion of churches has basic commitments to joint theological study and common initiatives in mission that demand ongoing reflection and expression concerning mission and its implications for our life together. DMD serves as the focal point for promoting and facilitating such efforts.
Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment
The LWF mission document, “Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment – An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission,” has given the member churches a tool for reflecting on how mission can be understood and practiced in our time.
The document begins with a section that seeks to name and analyze the contexts of mission; the second section discusses the theology of mission, and the third section focuses on the practice of mission. The theological core for understanding the holistic nature of God’s mission is based on three key concepts. Mission as transformation, reconciliation, and empowerment follows a hermeneutical spiral rather than a linear approach and is based on the dynamic view that mission is contextual.
This means that the good news can only be communicated effectively to people within their own context through language and actions that are an integral part of that context. Thus, the church is challenged to embark ever anew on the journey of reexamining its changing context in light of its theology and praxes or practices. The church carries out its mission – encompassing proclamation, diakonia and advocacy – as accompaniment to people in the complexity of their contexts.
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Mission Is Not Optional, Indian Lutheran Church Leaders Told
Emphasis on seeking justice for marginalized communities -
Norwegian Lutheran Bishops Reiterate Gratitude to Global Church for Solidarity
Theme of reaching out to the neighbor in meetings with LWF staff -
Reformation Is a Continuing Call, LWF General Secretary Junge Tells Council
LWF strategy will help communion answer God’s call
Mission Is Not Optional, Indian Lutheran Church Leaders Told
Emphasis on Seeking Justice for Marginalized Communities
CHENNAI, India/GENEVA, 17 October 2011 (LWI) - Christians must rethink their spirituality and mission to engage a constantly changing world, Rev. Dr Augustine Jeyakumar told Lutheran leaders from throughout India gathered for the 28th Triennial Conference and General Body of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI).
Lutheran Churches Pledge Improved Capacity for Holistic Mission
LWF Consultations Focus on Mission in 21st Century
GENEVA, 30 September 2011 (LWI) - Following a series of regional seminars and consultations, Asian and African Lutheran church leaders have pledged to improve and integrate their human resources and institutional capacities to respond to the challenge of doing mission in the 21st century.
Norwegian Lutheran Bishops Reiterate Gratitude to Global Church for Solidarity
Theme of Reaching Out to the Neighbor in Meetings with LWF Staff
GENEVA, 18 August 2011 (LWI) – During a visit to the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, members of the Church of Norway Bishops’ Conference reiterated appreciation for the messages of solidarity, prayers and other forms of support received from churches throughout the world following the 22 July bomb attack in Oslo and killings at Utøya Island.
Lutheran-Orthodox Commission Affirms Commitment toward Church Unity
Dialogue Group Celebrates 30 Years of Continuous Ecumenical Reflection
GENEVA, 1 July 2011 (LWI) – The Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission marked the completion of 30 years of work since the group met for the first session in 1981 in Espoo, Finland. Evaluations conducted by the commission members during the 15th plenary session held in Wittenberg, Germany, affirmed on both sides the work of this dialogue group and the commitment to work toward church unity.
Pathway for a Common Spiritual Journey
LWF Strategic Plan 2012-2017 Considered by Council
LWI Council Press Release No. 07/2011 | GENEVA, 10 June 2011 (LWI) – Theology, mutual accompaniment and service remain central to The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as it approaches the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017, a proposed strategic plan for the communion says.
Reformation Is a Continuing Call, LWF General Secretary Junge Tells Council
LWF Strategy Will Help Communion Answer God’s Call
LWI Council Press Release No. 04/2011 | GENEVA, 9 June 2011 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge has underlined that the global nature of the Lutheranism should shape commemorations for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation to be held in 2017.
Confront Justice Issues Head On, LWF President Urges
Bishop Younan Addresses Council Meeting in Geneva
LWI Council Press Release No. 03/2011 | GENEVA, 9 June 2011 (LWI) – Lutherans must remain undaunted in their struggle for justice, the President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan has urged in his first address as LWF president to the organization’s Council on 9 June.
Proclamation, Diakonia and Advocacy Make Holistic Mission
Lutheran Church Representatives Share Good Practices on Mission
MONTREUX, Switzerland/GENEVA, 6 June 2011 (LWI) – When representatives of Lutheran churches from around the world gathered to discuss how concrete church intervention is needed in today’s world, the first person to tell her story was Kyioe Narita of the Japan Lutheran Church.
