The New LWF Visual Identity
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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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Developing Capacity – A Way to Be Church
Lessons learned from Latin America and Caribbean Lutheran churches -
LWF Council Takes Decisions
New members, new dialogues, new visual identity -
Mission Is Not Optional, Indian Lutheran Church Leaders Told
Emphasis on seeking justice for marginalized communities
Re-forming Theology amid Rapid Changes
Asia Church Leadership Conference
BANGKOK, Thailand/GENEVA, 2 May 2013 (LWI) – Lutheran churches in Asia have embarked on a reformation of their theological understanding and reflection on holistic mission and Lutheran identity in the context of the region’s rapid secularization.
Sixty-five leaders from Asia’s Lutheran churches and mission partners met in Bangkok, Thailand, 12-16 April, for the Asian Church Leadership Conference (ACLC), organized by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Mission and Development (DMD) under the theme “Strengthening the Asian Communion in Changing Times.” The ACLC is convened every two years with the aim to discuss strategies and programs of the regional Lutheran communion, which includes 52 LWF member churches.
Developing Capacity – A Way to Be Church
Lessons Learned from Latin America and Caribbean Lutheran Churches
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia/GENEVA, 28 September 2012 (LWI) – Representatives of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region affirmed how strategic training for ordained and lay people is promoting church growth and encouraging more participation of members in the church’s prophetic mission.
Churches Seek Structures That Strengthen Their Prophetic Voice
Sharing of Gifts and Resources Explored in Latin American and Caribbean Context
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia/GENEVA, 20 September 2012 (LWI) – A regional meeting of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Bolivia’s eastern city of Santa Cruz is assessing how churches emerging from contexts of strong social, economic and political crises can be a prophetic voice of hope amidst massive impoverishment, violence and inequality.
LWF Council Takes Decisions
New Members on Dialogue Groups, New LWF Visual Identity
Council Press Release No. 12/2012 | BOGOTÁ, Colombia/GENEVA, 22 June 2012 (LWI)– At its meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, the Council of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) took important decisions for its work, based on recommendations from its committees. Besides public statements and resolutions (see other press releases) the focal themes included program work, finance, membership and communication.
Lutheran Churches in Mekong Identify Gender Justice as Priority
Pledge to Work Collectively to Be More Effective in Mission
YANGON, Myanmar/GENEVA, 1 June 2012 (LWI) – Representatives from Lutheran churches in Asia’s Mekong region have underlined gender justice and women’s ordination as priorities, following an appeal to address the growing inequalities in the participation and leadership of women among churches there.
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.
