The LWF communion in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) includes 16 member churches (14 in Latin America and two in the Caribbean) in 14 countries, with a combined membership of 838 thousand at the end of 2008. One church has membership over 700,000 and nine churches have fewer than 10,000 members.
These churches have very different backgrounds. Some were the result of immigration mainly from European countries in the eighteenth century. Others were planted by missionaries from the United States of America and Europe, while others emerged locally.
Communion in Latin America & the Caribbean
The churches in the region have set up a series of networks in order to give expression to their common mission, especially to their understanding of being churches in communion. The annual church leadership conference is the chosen instrument and strategy for deepening relationships and developing concrete expressions of joint responsibility in mission.
The exchange of personnel, participation in assemblies and synods and assistance during periods of difficulty through visitation and mediation have been increasing steadily over the years. Churches are also working together regionally on programs in four areas:
- illegitimate external debt
- HIV and AIDS
- communication
- diaconia
Generally speaking, churches say closer relationships between them are growing toward communion in Latin America and the Caribbean.
