The LWF communion in North America includes three member churches in two countries, with a combined membership of 4.67 million at the end of 2010. The largest church has over 4.5 million members, while the smallest has a membership of 8,000.
Communion in North America
In North America “communion” is not a concept that is easily understood. As the member churches in North America grow in their understanding they are recognizing the partnerships, responsibilities and accountability that communion calls them to.
As member churches they are called to never act alone or be accountable only to themselves. Communion within the LWF shapes the wider context of accountability and calls the churches to deeper relationships in mission.
Being active partners in the communion means finding great joy in sharing gifts and resources for mission, but also challenges the churches to let go of the control of those resources so that joint decisions can be made about their use.
Communion means walking with others when they are suffering, but also acknowledging one’s own weakness and being open to receive the care of others, especially when others have seen their need before they have.
It is important for this region to create spaces and occasions where people within the three member churches there can meet face-to-face across boundaries that usually separate them.
