Department for Mission and Development
Youth & the LWF
Young people are front and center of who we are, and what we want to be and do as a Lutheran communion. They are shapers of the life and work of the LWF.
We continually draw new inspiration and energy from our younger members. They call us to change and to be relevant for future generations.
We want young people have a place and voice in all aspects of church and communion life.
Strategic planning | Youth participation is one of the four cross-cutting priorities guiding our work up through 2017.
Programs with, for and by youth | We plan, run and accompany programs in youth advocacy, youth leadership, youth participation, and youth and Reformation 2017.
Decision-making and Representation | Young people under the age of 30 make up at least 20 percent of all our governing bodies. One fifth of participants at LWF events are youth.
Leadership training | Our LWF Youth Desk trains and accompanies young leaders through seminars, workshops, intergenerational encounter, virtual conferences, social networking, toolkits and publications.
Mapping | We want to make youth participation easier and even more meaningful so we are taking an across-the-board look at how young people are involved in the life of the communion and where there might be room for improvement.
Internships | We walk with young people during their experience as interns in the LWF Communion Office.
LWF Youth Priorities 2010-17
Sustainability | Society, economy and the environment:
LWF Youth promote practices and policies for today that do not compromise the capacity of future generations to meet their needs.
Gender justice:
LWF Youth call on the Lutheran communion to challenge systems and practices that limit men’s and women’s choices based on gender.
LWF visibility and the role of youth:
LWF Youth advocate for improved ways of communicating, decision-making and meeting to facilitate more active youth participation.
LWF Youth Activities in 2017
Promoting communion identity, relatioshionships and Christian unity
Promoting communion identity, relationships and Christian unity
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LWF Global Young Reformers Network:
Harvest and present learnings from the 60 “Living Reformation Projects” globally and nationally
Exhibitions and workshops at the Omatala, Windhoek
Leadership program during the World Exhibition on Reformation, Wittenberg -
Intergenerational dialogue
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Monitoring and reporting of 20% youth quota at LWF events, programs and decision-making boards
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Training and induction on principles of inclusiveness for new LWF staff and newly-elected church leaders
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Accompaniment of youth delegates to the LWF Twelfth Assembly
Witnessing as member churches that are sustainable and relate to the context within which they work
- Exchange of youth leaders between LWF member churches
Addressing poverty, injustice and human suffering
- Climate justice advocacy and climate projects of member churches, focusing on Africa
- Peace messengers training
- LWF trainee program in humanitarian work
LWF Youth within the Communion Office
Youth participation is a priority that cuts across all LWF departments. LWF Youth is based within the the Department for Mission and Development but works with all departments. Specific activities are implemented with the desks for ecumenical relations, international affairs and human rights, public theology and interreligious relations, Women in Church and Society and with the department, World Service (peace, climate justice, migration, humanitarian work).
Get Involved
- Connect with other Lutheran youth on Facebook
- Contact the LWF Youth Secretary on Facebook
- Blog for LWF Youth
- Become a volunteer translator and help us make LWF Youth materials available in languages other than English, German, Spanish and French
- Check out the LWF Youth YouTube channel
- Follow LWF Youth on Twitter
Contact
Caroline Bader, LWF Youth Secretary
