Member Churches
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Currently, 140 churches from 79 countries all over the world belong to the LWF. These churches represent over 68.3 million Christians.
The 140 member churches are grouped in seven regions:
Africa: 31 member churches, 17.13 million members
Asia: 47 member churches, 8.28 million members
Europe:
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Central Eastern Europe: 15 member churches, 1.44 million members
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Central Western Europe: 22 member churches, 15.63 million members
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Nordic Countries: 6 member churches, 20.07 million members
Latin America & the Caribbean: 16 member churches, 822,000 members
North America: 3 member churches, 4.96 million members
The LWF was founded in 1947. Churches
that wish to join must formally accept the Federation's
doctrinal basis, which "confesses the Holy Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments to be the only source
and norm of its doctrine, life and service. It sees
in the three Ecumenical Creeds and in the Confessions
of the Lutheran Church, especially in the unaltered
Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism of Martin
Luther, a pure exposition of the Word of God."
(LWF Constitution,
Article II) (Requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
Applications for membership are decided on by the Assembly or, between meetings of the Assembly, by the Council. Members may resign. The Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Council, may suspend or terminate membership.
Please find all LWF Member Churches.
Associate Member Churches
The LWF may also recognize as eligible to take part in its work, associate member churches that accept the same doctrinal basis as full members. They may participate in all LWF activities. Their representatives at Assembly meetings have the right to speak but can neither vote nor hold elective office.
Please find all Associate Member Churches.
Recognized Churches, Councils and Congregations
The LWF may also recognize as eligible to take part in its work, recognized churches, councils and congregations that accept the same doctrinal basis as full and associate member churches. They may participate in all LWF activities but only have observer status at Assembly meetings.
Please find all Recognized Churches, Councils and Congregations.
