First gathering of the Theological Education and Formation Strategic Advisory Group (TEF SAG)

Theological education and formation have always been a profound part of our Lutheran identity and the driver of religious, social, political, and economic reform. The 12th Assembly passed a Resolution on Theological Education that calls the LWF to create a strategy to ensure that everyone in our communion who feels called to lay or ordained ministry can access quality theological education.  The LWF seeks to build a participatory network where member churches, theological institutions, theologians and students can contribute gifts and address needs of theological education in their context. A Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) composed of eleven teaching theologians, students and representatives from member churches will meet in Geneva from 21-22 March to advise the strategy for building a Network for Theological Education and Formation.

12th Assembly Resolution on Theological Education

Colombia has made important achievements in incorporating a human rights approach in various stages of the peace process with the FARC: the negotiation, the contents of the Peace Agreement and the implementation. The third cycle of the UPR is an opportunity to evaluate and share this experience with other states - the good practices and the lessons learned - and also to exchange opinions on how the the third cycle recommendations can be a way for international community to continue contributing to peace building in the country.

The UPR also provides an opportunity to look at the advances and challenges in those aspects of the human rights situation that keep affecting the Colombian population despite signing the Peace agreement, such as the violence against the human rights defenders, inequality or impunity, among others.

Panel:

• Silvia Irene Berrocal, Leader who has worked with the vulnerable sectors in Apartadó (Urabá, Antioquia), member of Forjando Futuros and COMUPAZ
• Jomary Ortegon Osorio, Vicepresident of the Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo
• Gustavo Gallón Giraldo, Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists

Event Information:

• Friday 16th of March, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Palais des Nations, room XXII
• Interpretation in Spanish and English will be provided.

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This is a gathering of LWF Country Representatives in the Eastern Africa region, WS Geneva staff and invited Related Agency representatives to share, learn from each other and strategize together on issues of common concern.

Departments: Department for World Service

Language:  English

Event Agenda

Let’s go! Lutheran Churches on the Move in Mission

The activity aims at enhancing mutual accompaniment between the MCs and the two regions, deepening theological understanding of their mission work. The activity adds value to cross-regional communion relationships where MC actively learn together and share experiences through the networks: Bishops and Presidents, Youth, Women.

Program points:

• The mission of the churches today – enhancing work by engaging in the mission movement.
• Work in networks to deepen reflection about the 2017 Assembly Resolution and set agenda for the following years.
• Decision to Network for Theological Formation where the MCs and Theological organizations are the main actors.

Department: Department for Mission and Development

Language: Spanish with translation into English

Though many are one body

Under the theme “Though many are one body” (I Cor. 12:12), the meeting aims to strengthen collaboration and relationships among member churches in the region and in the communion. This includes finding mechanisms to boost the Africa regional and sub-regional expressions.

Program points:

• discuss and follow-up issues from the 2017 LWF Assembly, especially those pertinent to the region and the communion
• deliberate on preparations for the 2019 regional leadership consultation
• discuss issues in preparation for the LWF 2018 Council meeting
• agree strategies to implement common activities, including Confronting Poverty and Economic Injustice in Africa, the program through which the region’s churches engage communities living in poverty in initiatives that seek grassroots solutions to overcome marginalization 

Host Church: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana

Departments: Department for Mission and Development

Language: English with French interpretation

The Lutheran World Federation's Youth Pre-Council meeting takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 27 June 2018, the day before the LWF's Council meeting. The meeting prepares young Council members for their work in the Council, giving space to share experiences, learn about developments in related programmatic areas, and giving space for strategic planning so that generational concerns are featured in the Council deliberations and, consequently, in the overall work of the LWF.

Department: Department for Mission and Development

Program: Youth

LWF Youth

Council 2018

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Resources

Report of the LWF Youth Pre-Assembly 2017 22 January 2018 Report of the LWF Twelfth Youth Pre Assembly, Ondangwa, Namibia, 03–09 May 2017. Department for Mission and Development (until 2019) Youth Who Made the Lutheran Communion 29 November 2017 Testimonies and stories from 1947 to 2017 Department for Mission and Development (until 2019) LWF Supports Migrant Children Deported by U.S. to Central America 2 October 2014 Assistance to unaccompanied children and adolescents facing an uncertain future includes food, psychological support, social programs, water, personal hygiene and basic medicines kits Department for World Service “Here I am; for you called me.” 16 June 2014 Youth Participation and Leadership in the LWF Member Churches Department for Mission and Development (until 2019)

Historically, women of the LWF Council have gathered to build a platform to engage and share wisdom with the Communion work related to women’s network and gender justice.

This is a first meeting of the full new Council (2017-2023), therefore the aim is to share with the participants the achievements and challenges related to the participation of women in leadership and in the ordained ministry; efforts to overcome gender discrimination and gender-based violence and tools for women in leadership positions in the member churches

The Pre-council women will discuss relevant Resolutions made at the Twelfth Assembly, providing some guidance on ways to move forward. The council women are key actors in building bridges between the women in the networks and the decision making body, namely, the LWF Council. A panel open also to men in the Council, will close this program on June 27.

Departments: Department for Theology and Public Witness with the Office of the General Secretary

Program: Women in Church and Society

LWF Women in Church and Society

Twelfth Assembly: Public Statements and Resolution

Council 2018

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Resources

Women Advocacy Handbook 3 April 2019 A composition of articles that aims to strengthen the churches and FBOs capacity to advocate for women’s human rights from a faith perspective. The Participation of Women in the Ordained Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches 29 March 2017 A baseline assessment among LWF member churches carried forward in 2016 on the proportion of women in decision-making positions and in the ordained ministry. Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) LWF Gender Justice Policy 15 February 2017 An LWF framework for inclusive and sustainable communities, churches and programs throughout the global communion Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) Women on the Move postcards 14 March 2016 Series of six postcards shining the spotlight on the female heros of the Reformation movement Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019)

The training aims at enhancing skills of participants that are already working on gender justice, development and humanitarian areas and or church-related environments to:

• Increase the effectiveness of their work by getting acquainted with UN mechanisms such as the CEDAW Convention. Participation at the 70th CEDAW session in Geneva and workshops for drafting shadow reports during the training are the backbone of the training.
• Design local advocacy actions that reduce women and girls' vulnerability by adequately addressing issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights, using innovative methodologies such as the Theater of the Oppressed, from Augusto Boal.
• Explore successful strategies to relate to lay and religious leaders, authorities and other civil society actors.
• Strengthen their skills in affirming women’s rights from a faith perspective and getting acquainted with the opportunities, language and strategies to ensure progress in this area.

Inscription Deadline: 31 May 2018

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Department: Department for Theology and Public Witness

Program: Women in Church and Society

Language: English with interpretation in Spanish and French

Partners in the organization of the Training:

• The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
• World Council of Churches (WCC)
• FinnChurchAid (FCA)
• Church of Sweden (CoS)
• Mission 21 (Evangelisches Missionswerk Basel)

LWF Women in Church and Society

UN CEDAW Convention

View All Resources

Resources

Women Advocacy Handbook 3 April 2019 A composition of articles that aims to strengthen the churches and FBOs capacity to advocate for women’s human rights from a faith perspective. The Participation of Women in the Ordained Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches 29 March 2017 A baseline assessment among LWF member churches carried forward in 2016 on the proportion of women in decision-making positions and in the ordained ministry. Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) LWF Gender Justice Policy 15 February 2017 An LWF framework for inclusive and sustainable communities, churches and programs throughout the global communion Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) Women on the Move postcards 14 March 2016 Series of six postcards shining the spotlight on the female heros of the Reformation movement Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019)

Join the Global Young Reformers’ Network (GYRN) for the online discussion on April 13th to share your ideas and thoughts!

"To be a thriving church, we must have an active and strong membership in both church and society. We are grounded in the Gospel, centered in worship, gathered at the table, and sent to serve in mission.

We must be bold, flexible and proud of our Lutheran identity in the face of ever-present change. We are not limited by the divisions of our past and affirm the LWF statement, “The Church in the Public Space.”

Staying rooted in the Gospel, we must honor our diversity and contextualize worship throughout the communion while improving our work to spread the Gospel and being a welcoming communion. Lutheran youth play a significant role with the revival of churches and share this responsibility with the whole church.Intergenerational dialogue and leadership are essential to this task"

Join the discussion

LWF youth Pre-Assembly message 2017

Assembly resolution on strategic priorities and church revival

The Global Leadership Team Meeting brings together the World Service team - Finance Coordinators, Program Coordinator, Country Directors, ... - to take a joint look at critical issues related to daily DWS programmatic and managerial work.

The meeting will include training workshops, simulation exercises and sharing of experiences.

Department: Department for World Service

Event language:  English