Churches in Mission

Equipping churches to participate in God’s holistic mission

Although living and working in diverse contexts around the world, the 148 LWF member churches are united in their joint calling to share the gospel and serve the neighbor. 

Their mutual support and solidarity in the three interconnected dimensions of holistic mission: proclamation, diakonia and advocacy contributes toward strengthening the global communion of churches.

We also offer new ways to get involved in the vibrant life of our churches via different calls:

Youth gather for a pre-council meeting, in anticipation of the Lutheran World Federation council meeting 2019. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert

Youth gather for a pre-council meeting, in anticipation of the Lutheran World Federation council meeting 2019. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert 

The LWF Youth Program empowers and supports youth leaders across the communion and works with the member churches to include youth more fully in leadership as well.  

This cross-cutting work is done in collaboration with partners across the LWF, and is currently coordinated primarily through the work of the following programs.

A group of recently elected Lutheran church leaders took part in a week-long program at the LWF Communion Office to learn more about LWF’s work and exchange ideas from their respective regions. Photo: LWF/S. Gallay

A group of recently elected Lutheran church leaders took part in a week-long program at the LWF Communion Office to learn more about LWF’s work and exchange ideas from their respective regions. Photo: LWF/S. Gallay

Good leadership is essential to churches in order to carry out their mission and to be faithful to God’s calling. The LWF Leadership program seeks to inspire member churches to engage in continuous processes of leadership development, strengthen church sustainability through good governance and management and foster principles of inclusive communion as part of church identity.

Women’s Participation and Leadership

Women's pre-council meeting, in anticipation of the Lutheran World Federation council meeting 2019. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert

Standing for gender justice is essential to LWF’s identity as a communion of churches. The LWF seeks to promote the equal dignity of every person created in God’s image through the empowerment of women’s leadership

Capacity for Diakonia

Participants in the LWF diaconal workshop in Lubango, Angola. Photo: LWF/Marina Dölker

Diakonia refers to the call to respond to human suffering and injustice. It is a central pillar of the holistic mission of churches in the world. The LWF Communion Office supports the member churches in different areas of their diaconal engagement for the wider community. Besides supporting churches’ own local diaconal initiatives through project support (see member church projects), the Communion Office coordinates global initiatives focusing on different themes