Lutheran World Federation
"LWF" redirects here. For the aircraft, see Light Weight Fighter.
| Lutheran World Federation | |
|---|---|
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Logo of the Lutheran World Federation | |
| Type | Communion |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Lutheran |
| President | Munib Younan |
| General Secretary | Martin Junge |
| Headquarters | Geneva |
| Origin | 1947 |
| Members | 72 million |
| Official website |
www |
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The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the many differing Lutheran churches. Since 1984, the member churches are in pulpit and altar fellowship, with common doctrine as the basis of membership and mission activity.
The LWF now has 144 member church bodies in 79 countries representing over 72 million Lutherans.[1] The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
The Department for World Service (DWS) is the LWF's humanitarian arm. It has programs in 32 countries. The LWF is a member of ACT Alliance.
On October 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany, the Lutheran World Federation signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Roman Catholic Church. The statement is an attempt to narrow the theological divide between the two faiths. The Declaration also states that the mutual condemnations between 16th century Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church no longer apply.
History
The Federation was organized at Lund, Sweden, in 1947. Based in Geneva, it replaced the more informal Lutheran World Convention, which had been founded in 1924. The goal was to coordinate international activities of the many Lutheran churches, to provide a forum for discussions on theological and organizational issues, and to assist in philanthropy, missionary activity, and exchange of students and professors. A key leader was Executive Secretary Sylvester C. Michelfelder (1889-1951), Representing the American Lutheran Church. He had been a leader in organizing $45 million in American help for the rebuilding of Protestant churches in Germany after 1945. By the time of his death in 1951, the Federation represented 52 churches in 25 countries. [2][3]
Largest churches
The largest member churches are (with number of members in millions; 2015-2016 statistics):
- Church of Sweden (7)[4]
- Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (6.4)[5]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (5.8)[6]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (5)[7]
- Church of Denmark (4.43)[8]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (4.2)[9]
- Protestant Christian Batak Church, North Sumatera Indonesia (4.1)[10]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (4)[11]
- Church of Norway (3.8)[12]
- Malagasy Lutheran Church (3.0)[13]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Germany (2.8)[14]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany (2.5)[15]
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (2.5)[16]
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (2.2)[17]
- Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (2.2)[18]
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2.1)[19]
Federation Officials
- Bishop Dr Munib Younan, President
- Rev. Martin Junge, General Secretary
President
The President is the Federation's chief official representative and spokesperson. He/she presides at meetings of the Assembly, Council and Meeting of Officers, and oversees the life and work of the Federation in consultation with the General Secretary.[20]
General Secretary
The Lutheran World Federation Council elects the General Secretary, who is appointed for a seven-year term. The person appointed is eligible for re-election. The General Secretary conducts the business of the Federation assisted by the Communion Office Leadership Team, comprising department and unit heads appointed by the Council, and carries out the decisions of the Assembly and Council.[21]
Members
This map shows the global distribution of Lutheranism based on The LWF 2013 membership data.[22][lower-alpha 1]
Lutheranism by country in 2013, Lutheran World Federation member churches
Sorted by country in alphabetical order
- Angola
- Argentina
- Evangelical Church of the River Plate (includes Paraguay and Uruguay)
- United Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Australia
- Lutheran Church of Australia (includes New Zealand) – associate member church
- Austria
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- German-Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic
- Chile
- China (Hong Kong SAR)
- The Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church
- Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong
- Colombia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia
- St Matthew's Lutheran Congregation
- St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation
- Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Costa Rica
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
- Lutheran Costarican Church
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark (includes Church of Greenland, but not the Church of the Faroe Islands)
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Eritrea
- Evangelical Church of Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
- United Protestant Church of France
- Malagasy Protestant Church in France
- Ghana
- Georgia
- Germany
- Church of Lippe, Lutheran Classis
- Evangelical Church in Central Germany
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg
- Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe
- Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
- Guatemala
- Evangelical Lutheran Congregation "La Epifania"
- Guyana
- Hungary
- Honduras
- Iceland
- India
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
- Good Sheperd Evangelical Church
- Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
- India Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- South Andhra Lutheran Church
- The Arcot Lutheran Church
- The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Indonesia
- Batak Christian Community Church
- Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias
- Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
- Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
- Christian Protestant Angkola Church
- Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
- Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church
- Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church
- Protestant Christian Batak Church
- The Protestant Christian Church
- Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai
- Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
- The United Protestant Church
- Ireland
- Italy
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy
- Japan
- Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Japan Lutheran Church – associate member church
- Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Korea, Republic
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Lutheran Church in Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Basel Christian Church of Malaysia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
- Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore
- The Protestant Church in Sabah
- Mexico
- German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico
- Mexican Lutheran Church
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar
- Lutheran Church of Myanmar
- Myanmar Lutheran Church
- The Mara Evangelical Church
- Namibia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN – GELC)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN)
- Nepal
- Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Lutheran Church in Nigeria
- The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Norway
- Palestine
- Peru
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
- Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Lutheran Church of Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T)
- Moravian Church in South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Lutheran Church of Taiwan
- Taiwan Lutheran Church
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Evangelical Church of the River Plate
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela
- Lutheran Church of Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Presidents of LWF
| From | Until | Name | Sending Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 1952 | Anders Nygren | Church of Sweden |
| 1952 | 1957 | Hanns Lilje | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover |
| 1957 | 1963 | Franklin Clark Fry | United Lutheran Church in America; after 1962, Lutheran Church in America |
| 1963 | 1970 | Fredrik A. Schiotz | American Lutheran Church |
| 1970 | 1977 | Mikko Juva | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| 1977 | 1984 | Josiah M. Kibira | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania |
| 1984 | 1987 | Zoltán Káldy | Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary |
| 1987 | 1990 | Johannes Hanselmann | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria |
| 1990 | 1997 | Gottfried Brakemeier | Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil |
| 1997 | 2003 | Christian Krause | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick |
| 2003 | 2010 | Mark Hanson | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| 2010 | present | Munib Younan | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land |
See also
Notes
- ↑ One of the countries with a higher amount of Lutherans is the United States (the LWF does not include the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and several other Lutheran churches).
References
- ↑ "About the LWF". The Lutheran World Federation. June 2013.
- ↑ Wentz, 1965
- ↑ Jens Holger Schjørring, et al., eds. From federation to communion: the history of the Lutheran World Federation (Augsburg Fortress Pub, 1997)
- ↑ "In English". www.svenskakyrkan.se. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Ethiopia | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Tanzania | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Namibia | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Denmark | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Väestönmuutokset 2015*" (PDF). skasti.evl.fi. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Indonesia | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Home". ELCA.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Norway | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Madagascar | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "India | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Nigeria | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
- ↑ "Netherlands | The Lutheran World Federation". www.lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ↑ http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/who-we-are/organization/council/president
- ↑ http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/who-we-are/central-offices/general-secretariat/general-secretary
- ↑ The Lutheran World Federation 2013 Membership Figures
Further reading
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. "Lutheran World Federation (LWF)." in Jordan J. Ballor and Stephen J. Grabill, eds. Ecumenical Babel: Confusing Economic Ideology and the Church's Social Witness (2010) pp: 29+
- Schjørring, Jens Holger, et al., eds. From federation to communion: the history of the Lutheran World Federation (Augsburg Fortress Pub, 1997)
- Wenz, Abdel Ross. "Lutheran World Federation, in Julius Bodensieck, ed. The encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church. Vol. 2. (Augsburg Publishing House, 1965) 2:1422-1432
External links
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