The Geneva-based Europe area desk of the Department for Mission and Development (DMD) serves the three LWF regions in Europe:
- Central Western Europe
- Central Eastern Europe
- Nordic Countries
The work of the area desk supports the holistic ministries of member churches with programs and projects that respond to particular concerns of church life in Europe and specific priorities identified by the member churches and the regions.
LWF Regions in Europe | Member Churches in Europe
Mission and Diakonia
All churches hear the call to mission and service in their contexts in the midst of major changes and trends in Europe:
- expansion of the European Union
- widespread migration seeking better economic conditions
- increasing cultural and religious pluralism
- pervasive secularization
The churches are challenged to be hospitable with open doors and hearts for the concerns of citizens, while the many changes are opening up new opportunities for sharing visions, strategies and resources.
The Europe Desk accompanies and supports the churches in their reflection and response.
Strengthening Communion and Communication
Church leadership consultations, workshops and various meetings regularly include women and youth leaders as well as the heads of churches.
As they seek to be an inclusive communion within Europe, and to strengthen the global Lutheran communion, the partnership between and among member churches in Europe has developed to express equality and spiritual communion, even while large differences remain.
The Europe Desk works closely with the churches and those in leadership to strengthen communication and relationships, and to assist with mediation and counseling when conflicts arise within churches and between churches.
Projects for Education and Mission
The Europe desk encourages and facilitates projects within individual churches, focusing on many needs for education and mission. Youth gatherings stimulate missionary activities and build networks for youth leadership, while outreach to students from abroad, with differing ethnic backgrounds, promotes intercultural and interfaith learning and community building.
Efforts to strengthen communication ministries aim for wider sharing of Christian and especially Lutheran values, teachings and traditions, within the churches and also through public media in society.
Other projects focus on lay and professional theological education for witness in post-communist contexts. In some churches, the urgent need is for maintenance of buildings for missionary and diaconal purposes.
LWF European Consultation 2009
For further information please contact:
Rev. Dr Eva-Sibylle Vogel-Mfato, Area Secretary for Europe
Ms Claudia Hoffmann Denarié, Administrative Assistant
See Also
Department for Mission and Development | Communication Committee of European Minority Churches (KALME)
