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Lutheran World Federation
| The Lutheran World Federation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Communion |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Lutheran |
| President | Musa Panti Filibus |
| General Secretary | Martin Junge |
| Headquarters | Ecumenical Centre (Geneva, Switzerland) |
| Origin | 1947 |
| Members | 74 million |
| Official website | www.lutheranworld.org |
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The Lutheran World Federation (LWF; German: Lutherischer Weltbund) 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 145 member church bodies in 89 countries representing over 74 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 is the LWF's humanitarian and development arm. It has programmes in 24 countries and is the UNHCR 9th largest implementing partner. The LWF is a member of ACT Alliance.
On 31 October 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. A similar event took place in Lund Cathedral at the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation when Pope Francis visited Scania, Sweden's southernmost province that originally was Danish.[2][3]
119 of the 145 member churches (80%) ordain women as ministers.[4]
Contents
1 History
2 Largest churches
3 Federation officials
3.1 President
3.2 General Secretary
4 Members
5 Views on same-sex unions
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 Bibliography
10 External links
History
The LWF was founded at Lund, Sweden, in 1947. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, 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.[5]
Largest churches
The 20 largest member churches are (with number of members in millions; 2016 statistics):
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (8.3)[6]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (6.5)[7]
Church of Sweden (6.3)[8]
Protestant Christian Batak Church (4.5)[9]
Church of Denmark (4.4)[10]
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (4.2)[11]
Church of Norway (3.8)[12]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (3.7)[13]
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (3)[14]
Malagasy Lutheran Church (3.0)[15]
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Germany (2.7)[16]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany (2.5)[16]
The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (2.2)[17]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (2.1)[16]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg (2.1)[18]
Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2)[19]
Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (1.02)[20]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (0.8)[21]
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony (0.73)[18]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (0.6)[22]
Federation officials
President
The President is the federation's chief official representative and spokesperson. He or 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.[23]
| № | Portrait | Name | Term | Church | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Anders Nygren (1890–1978) | 1947–1952 | Church of Sweden |  Sweden |
| 2 |  | Hanns Lilje (1899–1977) | 1952–1957 | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover |  Germany |
| 3 | Franklin Clark Fry (1900–1968) | 1957–1963 |
|  United States | |
| 4 | Fredrik A. Schiotz (1901–1989) | 1963–1970 | American Lutheran Church | United States | |
| 5 |  | Mikko Juva (1918–2004) | 1970–1977 | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |  Finland |
| 6 | Josiah Kibira (1925–1988) | 1977–1984 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania |  Tanzania | |
| 7 | Zoltán Káldy (1919–1987) | 1984–1987 | Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary |  Hungary | |
| 8 | Johannes Hanselmann (1927–1999) | 1987–1990 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria | Germany | |
| 9 | Gottfried Brakemeier (born 1937) | 1990–1997 | Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil |  Brazil | |
| 10 | Christian Krause (born 1940) | 1997–2003 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick | Germany | |
| 11 |  | Mark Hanson (born 1946) | 2003–2010 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | United States |
| 12 |  | Munib Younan (born 1950) | 2010–2017 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land |  Palestine |
| 13 | Musa Panti Filibus (born 1960) | 2017–present | The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria |  Nigeria |
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.[24]
| № | Name | Term | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sylvester Michelfelder (1889–1951) | 1947–1951 | United States |
| 2 | Carl Lund-Quist (1908–1965) | 1951–1960 | United States |
| 3 | Kurt Schmidt-Clausen (1920–1993) | 1960–1965 | Germany |
| 4 | André Appel (1921–2007) | 1965–1974 |  France |
| 5 | Carl Henning Mau Jr. (1922–1995) | 1974–1985 | United States |
| 6 | Gunnar Stålsett (born 1935) | 1985–1994 |  Norway |
| 7 | Ishmael Noko (born 1943) | 1994–2010 |  Zimbabwe |
| 8 | Martin Junge (born 1961) | 2010–present |  Chile |
Members
This map shows the global distribution of Lutheranism based on The LWF 2013 membership data.[25][a]
Sorted by country in alphabetical order
- Angola
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of 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 (also an associate member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Austria
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria
- Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Lutheran Church
- Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Belarus
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Belgium
- Lutheran Church of Belgium: Arlon and Christian Mission
- Bolivia
- Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- German-Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia
- Botswana
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana
- Brazil
- Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
- Cameroon
- Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
- Canada
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
- Central African Republic
- Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic
- Chile
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
- Lutheran Church in 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
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo
- Costa Rica
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
- Lutheran Costarican Church
- Croatia
- Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
- Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
- Denmark
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark (includes Church of Greenland, but not the Church of the Faroe Islands)
- Ecuador
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Salvadoran Lutheran Church
- Eritrea
- Evangelical Church of Eritrea
- Estonia
- Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Ethiopia
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum)
- Finland
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
- France
- Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
- United Protestant Church of France
- Malagasy Protestant Church in France
- Ghana
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Georgia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- 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
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
- Hungary
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary
- Honduras
- Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras
- Iceland
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
- India
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
- Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
India Evangelical Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)- 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[citation needed]
- Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
- Christian Protestant Angkola Church
- Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum)- 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
- The Lutheran Church in Ireland
- Italy
- Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy
- Japan
- Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church
Japan Lutheran Church – associate member church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)- Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Jordan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
- Kazakhstan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Kenya
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council and a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum)- Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Korea, Republic
Lutheran Church in Korea (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Kyrgyzstan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Latvia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
- Liberia
- Lutheran Church in Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
- Madagascar
Malagasy Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Malawi
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in 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
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar
- Lutheran Church of Myanmar
Myanmar Lutheran Church (also an associate member of the International Lutheran Council)- 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
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope
- Nigeria
- Lutheran Church in Nigeria
- The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
- Norway
- Church of Norway
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway
- Palestine
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
- Peru
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
- Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church
- Papua New Guinea
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
Gutnius Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Philippines
Lutheran Church in the Philippines (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Poland
- Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession in Poland
- Romania
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania
- Russia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Rwanda
- Lutheran Church of Rwanda
- Senegal
- Lutheran Church of Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Lutheran Church in Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in 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
Lanka Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council)
- Suriname
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname
- Sweden
- Church of Sweden
- Switzerland
- Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Lutheran Church of Taiwan
- Taiwan Lutheran Church
- Tanzania
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum)
- Thailand
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand
- Ukraine
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- United Kingdom
- Lutheran Church in Great Britain
- The Lutheran Council of Great Britain
- United States of America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Uruguay
- Evangelical Church of the River Plate
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
- Venezuela
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela
- Lutheran Church of Venezuela
- Zambia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe
Views on same-sex unions
Some member denominations have recognized same-gender unions through marriage, a blessing rite, or special prayers. These include the Church of Denmark, Church of Iceland, Church of Norway, Church of Sweden, Evangelical Church in Austria, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chile, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Geneva, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy, a majority of the churches within the Evangelical Church in Germany, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, and the United Protestant Church of France.[26]
On the other side, several churches, including the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Malagasy Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania, which recognize marriage as solely the union between a man and a woman, have broken ties with many of the churches supporting same-gender unions.[27]
See also
- Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
- Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum
- International Lutheran Council
- List of the largest Protestant denominations
- Porvoo Communion
- World Council of Churches
Notes
^ One of the countries with a higher number of Lutherans is the United States. The LWF does not include the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and several other Lutheran bodies which together have over 2.5 million members.[citation needed]
References
^ "About the LWF". The Lutheran World Federation. August 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "The Lutheran World Federation". The Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
^ "Pope Francis to visit Sweden for Reformation commemoration". Catholicherald.co.uk. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
^ "More than 80 percent of LWF churches ordain women". The Lutheran World Federation. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
^ Schjørring, Kumari & Hjelm 1997; Wentz 1965.
^ "Ethiopia | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ "Tanzania | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ "In English". Svenskakyrkan.se. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Indonesia | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ "Denmark | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^ "Väestönmuutokset 2015*" (PDF). sakasti.evl.fi. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ "Norway | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^ "ELCA Facts". Elca.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
^ "India | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ "Madagascar | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^ abc "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^ "Nigeria | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^ ab "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^ "Netherlands | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
^ "World Map || Latin America and Caribbean || Brazil". Worldmap.org. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^ "Namibia - The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
^ "South Africa | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2011-12-09.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2012-01-10.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ "The Lutheran World Federation 2013 Membership Figures" (PDF). Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
^ "Gay Marriage Around the World". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ "Ethiopian Church Severs Ties With Lutherans Over Homosexuality". Christian Post. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
Bibliography
.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{list-style-type:none;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>dd{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100{font-size:100%}
Schjørring, Jens Holger; Kumari, Prasanna; Hjelm, Norman A., eds. (1997). From Federation to Communion: The History of the Lutheran World Federation. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press. ISBN 978-0-8006-3110-9.
Wentz, Abdel Ross (1965). "The Lutheran World Federation". In Bodensieck, Julius (ed.). The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church. 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Augsburg Publishing House. pp. 1422–1432.
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