LWF responds to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
Updates, resource, and information on how to support the LWF‘s efforts to reduce its impact
March 2020
- Early 2020 Press Releases and Press Kits
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- 20 June 2020: World Refugee Day 2020 - Online Press Kit - Shareable materials for this event #LWFwithRefugees, #WithRefugees, #WorldRefugeeDay, #RefugeeDay
- 20 May 2020: LWF General Secretary announces he will step down in 2021 - Statement - Biography (EN | DE | ES | FR) - Press Photo
- 15 May 2020: COVID-19: Calling for an Economy of Life in a Time of Pandemic - Joint Statement
- 12 May 2020: Leaving No One Behind: Ensuring an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) - Inclusive Approach to Internal Displacement Joint Submission to the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement - Joint Statement
- 11 May 2020: COVID-19: Faith based organizations call for immediate ceasefire toprotect people from COVID-19 - Lutheran World Federation and Islamic Relief Worldwide appeal for peace to protect people from Coronavirus - Joint Statement
- 24 April 2020: COVID-19: LWF leaders urge churches to confront and reject xenophobia and domestic violence exposed by Coronavirus - Pastoral letter - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 22 April 2020: Call for “immediate ceasefire” in Rakhine state - Statement
- 17 April 2020: COVID-19: LWF launches Rapid Response Fund for member churches - COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund for LWF Member Churches
- 10 April 2020: Easter message: God reaffirms life and gives us hope - P. Dr. Nestor Paulo Friedrich is the LWF Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 9 April 2020: Good Friday Message: A Corona of Thorns - Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén, Church of Sweden, is the LWF Vice President for the Nordic countries - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 9 April 2020: NGOs call for urgent action for the most vulnerable - COVID-19: LWF joins call for release of U.S. funding for West Bank and Gaza - Letter
- 2 April 2020: COVID-19: LWF leaders say World does not need stigmatization, xenophobia or apocalyptic prophesies - Pastoral letter - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 30 March 2020: COVID-19: LWF calls on governments, civil society and churches to ensure rapid and inclusive response to pandemic - Statement
- 24 March 2020: LWF joins call of Pope Francis for simultaneous prayer on 25 March - United in the Lord's Prayer across the globe - Lord's Prayer Video - Letter - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 19 March 2020: COVID-19: Lutheran leaders urge all churches to support laws and regulations that “promote and protect life” - Pastoral Letter - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 12 March 2020: COVID-19: LWF leaders send letter to member churches offering prayers, support, and encouragement - Letter - EN | DE | ES | FR | SW
- 9 March 2020: Strengthen efforts for gender justice and women’s empowerment - Statement
- 5 February 2020: LWF joins coalition to reject US “Peace to Prosperity” plan - Joint Statement
- 30 January 2020: Clarification from the Lutheran World Federation regarding Bishop Munib Younan and the Sunhak Peace Prize
- 29 January 2020: Grave concern over US “Peace to Prosperity” plan - Statement
- 27 January 2020: LWF and WCC issue joint appeal to Nigerian president - Letter
- 20 January 2020: Joint Lutheran-Catholic event in 2021 - Lutherans and Catholics to jointly mark 500th anniversary of Luther’s excommunication. - LUTHERAN-ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE | RESOURCE: FROM CONFLICT TO COMMUNION
- 1 January 2020: 2020 New Year Message: So that all have life in abundance - General Secretary Junge calls on churches to bear witness to the gospel message by proclaiming the good news of salvation, serving the neighbor, caring for God’s creation, and advocating for the oppressed. - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 2019 Press Releases and Press Kits
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- 13 December 2019: 2019 LWF Christmas message: Light in the darkness - Archbishop Musa invites Christians to make “the light of Christ visible and transformational for others.” - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 25 November 2019 – 10 December 2019: 16 Days campaign - Online Press Kit | Shareable materials for this event: Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence
- 16 September 2019: JDDJ 20th anniversary - Online Press Kit | Shareable materials for this event: A liturgy to share what “unites us”
- 19 August 2019: World Humanitarian Day - Online Press Kit | Shareable materials for this event Selfless service at the front line #WomenHumanitarians
- 12 August 2019: International Youth Day 2019 - Online Press Kit | Shareable materials for this event “Transforming Education”
- 20 June 2019: World Refugee Day 2019 - Full Online Press Kit | Shareable materials for this event #WithRefugees
- 13–18 June 2019: Council 2019 - Full Online Press Kit | Daily updates, concerning the LWF Council documents, during and after the Council
- 24 April 2019: Sri Lanka: LWF condemns violence, urges religious leaders to promote peace - LWF calls for protection of places of worship - Full statement | Full story
- 20 April 2019: Easter message: A time to reflect on new perspectives - LWF Vice-President Desri Maria Sumbayak - EN | DE | ES | FR | BI | KS
- 18 April 2019: Good Friday message: Christ on the cross has also borne away our pain - LWF Vice-President Urmas Viilma - EN | DE | ES | FR | EE | BI | KS
- 9 April 2019: Human Rights Council: Concern for conflict-affected populations and people with albinism - LWF’s intervention at 40th session of UN Human Rights Council
- 3 April 2019: Statement from Notre Dame Consultation: Visible Unity and Common Witness
- 18 March 2019: Solidarity following mosque attacks in Christchurch
- 29 January 2019: LWF condemns stifling of democracy in Venezuela
- 22 January 2019: International NGOs call for unrestricted access to affected populations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state
- 1st January 2019: LWF New Year Message: ‘Seek peace and pursue it’ - General Secretary Junge invites Lutheran churches to be peacebuilders - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 2018 Press Releases
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- 14 December 2018: 2018 LWF Christmas message: “Do not be afraid” - Archbishop Musa invites Christians to conquer fear of others - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 10 December 2018: 70 years on: upholding the dignity of every human being - "LWF reaffirms Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a framework for safeguarding human dignity" - EN | DE | ES | FR
- 21 November 2018: Act now to avoid climate catastrophe, faith groups urge - "Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C" report released
- 8 September 2018: US Cuts Funding to East Jerusalem Hospital Network - "Critical to ensure ongoing, lifesaving treatment for patients from the West Bank and Gaza"
- 17 August 2018: World Humanitarian Day: LWF calls for protection of humanitarian space
- 7 August 2018: Lutherans concerned about Jewish nation-state law - Full ELCJHL statement | Full Story
- 2 August 2018: LWF concerned about rising violence in Nicaragua
- 2 July 2018: Council approves new strategy for the LWF - EN | PHOTOS
- 29 June 2018: LWF reports sound financial situation - EN | PHOTOS
- 28 June 2018: Report of the LWF General Secretary to the Council - EN | PHOTOS
- 28 June 2018: LWF President Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa addresses Council in Geneva - EN | PHOTOS
- 5 June 2018: LWF General Secretary awarded St Henry’s Cross
- 14 May 2018: Call for de-escalation of violence in the Holy Land
- 2 May 2018: The world needs robust implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement
- 14 April 2018: Statement by the LWF President and General Secretary on the escalation of military conflict in Syria
- 28 March 2018: “...He has risen…” - Easter message by LWF President Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa
- 27 March 2018: The cross that transforms - Good Friday message by LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge
- 17 January 2018: Lund cross to be placed in Ecumenical Center, Geneva
- 2017 Press Releases
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- 8 December 2017: LWF offers “Christ of Bojayá” to Pope Francis, symbolizing hope for unity and reconciliation
- 7 December 2017: LWF President Musa meets Pope Francis and calls for “pastoral ecumenism”
- 6 December 2017: LWF urges US President Trump to refrain from recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating the US embassy
- 13 November 2017: Global church leaders urge COP23 to take action
- 5 November 2017: The World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation - together representing more than half a billion Christians worldwide - issue a united call for action on climate justice.
- 31 October 2017: Pastoral responsibility toward sharing of the Eucharist - Joint LWF - PCPCU statement on Reformation Day 2017
- 21 October 2017: Augsburg Peace Prize awarded to LWF General Secretary
- 20 June 2017: World Refugee Day: Extend the hand of welcome
- 2 June 2017: Climate justice must be prioritized, say ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches
- 16 May 2017: Called to turn outward with gratitude for service - Message of the LWF Twelfth Assembly
- 7 May 2017: LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia – a historic global gathering to mark the ongoing reformation
- 4 April, 2017: Dr Denis Mukwege keynote speech at LWF Assembly in Namibia
- 16 March 2017: International voting for young preacher open
- 2016 Press Releases
- 2015 Press Releases
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- 27 November 2015: LWF, ACT Alliance and WCC jointly call for a fair, ambitious agreement
- 3 November 2015: Climate activist Yeb Saño to reach Geneva November 3
- 5 October 2015: UNHCR panel discussion - People of faith for people in need
- 19 August 2015: Media invitation to global gathering of young Lutherans
- 23 June 2015: LWF announces decision not to invest in fossil fuels
- 19 June 2015: LWF Council meeting in Geneva - Update: EN | DE
- 22 April 2015: A Clear and Compelling Need to Save Mediterranean Refugees - EN | DE
- 17 April 2015: LWF Update on Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya - Update: EN | DE
- 13 April 2015: LWF Advocates for Gaza Reconstruction
- 15 January 2015: Lutherans and Catholics Plan Joint Ecumenical Commemoration in 2016 - JOINT LWF-PCPCU PRESS RELEASE: EN | DE
- 8 January 2015: LWF Condemns Disregard for Human Life in Paris Killings
- 2014 Press Releases
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- 19 December 2014: From Conflict to Communion - LWF and the Vatican Announce Common Liturgical Material for 2017 - EN | DE
- 11 December 2014: LWF Leaders Urge Member Churches to Advocate for Syrian Refugees, who risk hunger and starvation - EN | DE
- 9 December 2014: Cash-Flow Crisis of Augusta Victoria Hospital Averted - EN | DE
- 2 December 2014: 365 Days of Fasting Launched at COP20 - “Fast-for-the-Climate” campaign - EN | DE
- 14 November 2014: General Secretary Urges Mexican Church to Defend the Value of Each Human Being - Shocking news about disappearance and death of 43 students - EN- DE
- 23 October 2014: An invitation to join in the three-year process of global and regional initiatives to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation - EN | DE
- 25 September 2014: LWF Solidarity with Churches and Communities Affected by Ebola Crisis - EN | DE
- 25 August 2014: LWF and Islamic Relief Sign Memorandum of Understanding
- 07 August 2014: South Sudan: LWF Condemns Aid Workers’ Killing, Evacuates Maban Staff amid Growing Insecurity - EN | DE
- 8 July 2014: LWF General Secretary Junge and Cardinal Koch Share their Views on Understanding of the Church - EN | DE
- 29 April 2014: LWF Joins Call to End Violence against Civilians in South Sudan - EN | DE
- 25 April 2014: LWF Pleads for Cessation of Hostilities and Humanitarian Access to Civilians in South Sudan - EN | DE
- 17 April 2014: LWF Council 2014 (from 12-17 June 2014 in Medan, Indonesia) – Invitation to the Media
- 10 April 2014: LWF Encouraged By Sustained Advocacy to Resolve Financial Situation at Augusta Victoria Hospital - EN | DE
- 3 April 2014: LWF Deeply Concerned about Suspended Activities’ Impact on Communities in Myanmar - EN | DE
- 27 March 2014: Ecumenical Organizations Discuss Swiss Immigration Vote with Geneva Authorities - EN | DE
- 27 February 2014: Nigeria: People of Faith Affirming the Sanctity of Life amid Challenges - EN | DE
- 20 February 2014: Deep Concern over Impact of Swiss Vote on Massive Immigration - EN | DE
- 20 February 2014: Ukrainian Bishop Calls for End to Violence (at Independence Square (Maidan) in the capital of Kiev) - EN | DE
- 5 February 2014: Critical Financial Situation at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem - EN | DE
- 14 January 2014: Lutheran Reformation is a Global Citizen - EN | DE | PHOTO
- 2013 Press Releases
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- 13-18 June 2013: Council 2013 (in Geneva)
