2022 New Year message from LWF General Secretary

Rev. Anne Burghardt encourages churches to be “messengers of hope” who seek inclusion and unity  

(LWI) – In her first New Year message as General Secretary of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Anne Burghardt, invites churches in the global communion to be “messengers of hope in today’s world,” by putting “faith into action,” contributing to inclusion and striving for unity. 

Referring to the watchword for 2022, Burghardt encourages churches to rest assured of Christ’s promise that none who comes to him would be cast out. “He will receive us with our prayers, our concerns and our sorrows, he gives us hope and empowers us.” 

In spite of a year still overshadowed by grieving and suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unresolved conflicts around the world and destruction of God’s creation, “we enter the new year, knowing that he is with us every day,” she adds.  

The LWF leader shares her conviction that the communion will continue “to be light in and for the world,” serving the neighbor, spreading peace and reconciliation and standing up for human dignity irrespective of the prevailing circumstances. 

Read the New Year message