Reformation 2017

Reflect. Connect. Be Transformed.

As a communion, we are journeying towards the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017.

Liberated by God’s Grace.

As Christians liberated by God’s grace, we are free. Free to love and serve our neighbor, free to be a responsible citizen in the world and free to be a good steward of God’s creation.

Salvation – Not for Sale

Salvation is God’s free gift— this is the central message of the doctrine of justification. It expresses a clear critique of concepts that treat salvation as a commodity on the “religious market.”

Human beings – Not for Sale

Every person is created in the image of God and must be fully respected in her/his dignity and integrity. Practices that create or increase poverty need to be critically addressed by churches.

Creation – Not for Sale

Nature has to be fully respected and protected as God’s good creation, entrusted to human care. It cannot be subject to exploitative human domination nor can its resources be exploited as commodities.

Reformation 2017 website

Get Involved

Church leaders, ecumenical officers and Reformation 500 coordinators are the driving force in this three-year journey.

Join the 2017 Network

Principles

Global

Lutheran reformation today is a global citizen. The evangelical insight has been embraced in different regions, situations and epochs, every one of them giving its own contribution

Ecumenical

Lutheran reformation today is about responding together with Christians of other church traditions to the calling of Jesus Christ

Ongoing

Lutheran reformation today is a global citizen. The evangelical insight has been embraced in different regions, situations and epochs, every one of them giving its own contribution

Lutheran reformation today is being “in reformation” – churches are called to be open to constant renewal and to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the face of contemporary challenges

Goals

Strengthen the LWF communion: We want our member churches to recognize the mutuality of being part of a global Lutheran communion and to get involved in regional and global preparations for Reformation 2017.
Deepen understanding of what it means to be Lutheran: We want our member churches to think and talk about how to be Lutheran churches in ongoing reformation in their current contexts.
Strengthen our ecumenical commitment: We want to explore with other Christian World Communions our calling in the world today and how we can respond together.
Reaffirm our commitment to justice and peace: We want our member churches to become a part of joint diaconal and advocacy efforts and to work actively for justice and peace.

Activities

Reformation 2017 starts now. Find out what the LWF is planning in 2015-2017 and watch for the launch of the Reformation 2017 website!

2016

LWF hermeneutics workshop: 13-16 June 2016 | Three day workshop to harvest the fruits of the LWF hermeneutics process and prepare a statement on Lutheran biblical interpretation
LWF Council 2016 in Wittenberg: 16-21 June 2016 | The Council will discuss a number of important items related to Reformation 2017. During the meeting, the Luther Garden, initiated by the German National Committee, will be handed over to the public.
Women on the Move publication: Reformation Day 2016 | LWF women theologians networks will publish contributions on women in theology and stories of women reformers.
Anglican-Lutheran study material: Advent 2016 | Material for congregations on the main theme of Reformation 2017, “Liberated by God’s Grace,” will be published.
Living Reformation projects: Throughout 2016 | Members of the Global Young Reformers Network will launch Living Reformation projects based on ideas from the Wittenberg conference in 2015.

2017

LWF Twelfth Assembly

10-16 May 2017 | Main global LWF event commemorating the Reformation anniversary with the outcome of LWF programs, processes and global dialogues looking at what it means to be Lutheran 500 years later.

Reformation 2017 website

31 October 2017 | Virtual transmission of Reformation Day celebrations from all around the globe in 24-hour sequence.

Reformation website

Twelfth Assembly preaching contest

Are you a young pastor? Are you interested in preaching at the Twelfth Assembly of the LWF? Then and now the message of the Reformation is that we are “Liberated by God’s grace.” How would you express that in a sermon? The Lutheran World Federation calls for sermons, nurtured by the word of God and communicated through the lens of your experience.