Live on Reformation Day
On Reformation Day, 31st October 2017, the Lutheran World Federation invited everyone on a trip around the world and across the seven LWF regions to witness how the Reformation had become a global citizen.
Watch some of the worship services marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and listen to church leaders talking about the importance of these events in their regions.
A choir lights up the worship with singing to mark commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in Windhoek, Namibia. Photo by LWF/Johanan Celine Valeriano
Global
Lutheran reformation today is a global citizen. The evangelical insight has been embraced in different regions, situations and epochs, every one of them giving its own contribution
Ecumenical
Lutheran reformation today is about responding together with Christians of other church traditions to the calling of Jesus Christ
Ongoing
Lutheran reformation today is a global citizen. The evangelical insight has been embraced in different regions, situations and epochs, every one of them giving its own contribution
Lutheran reformation today is being “in reformation” – churches are called to be open to constant renewal and to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the face of contemporary challenges
Strengthen the LWF communion
We want our member churches to recognize the mutuality of being part of a global Lutheran communion and to get involved in regional and global preparations for Reformation 2017.
Deepen understanding of what it means to be Lutheran
We want our member churches to think and talk about how to be Lutheran churches in ongoing reformation in their current contexts.
Strengthen our ecumenical commitment
We want to explore with other Christian World Communions our calling in the world today and how we can respond together.
Reaffirm our commitment to justice and peace
We want our member churches to become a part of joint diaconal and advocacy efforts and to work actively for justice and peace.
We asked the LWF vice-presidents, representing the 7 regions of the LWF, to reflect on the Reformation 2017 commemorations in the global and regional context.
Ms Desri Maria SUMBAYAK
LWF Vice-President for the Asia region | Indonesian Christian Church
Archbishop Urmas VIILMA
LWF Vice-President for the Central Eastern Europe region | Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bishop Elizabeth EATON
LWF Vice-President for the North America region | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Dr Jeannette ADA EPSE MAINA
LWF Vice-President for the Africa region | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
Pröpstin Astrid KLEIST
LWF Vice-President for the Central Western Europe region | Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
Rev. Dr Nestor FRIEDRICH
LWF Vice-President for the Latin America and the Caribbean region | Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
Archbishop Dr Antje JACKELÉN
LWF Vice-President for the Nordic Countries region | Church of Sweden
LWF Twelfth Assembly
10-16 May 2017 | Main global LWF event commemorating the Reformation anniversary with the outcome of LWF programs, processes and global dialogues looking at what it means to be Lutheran 500 years later.
Reformation 2017 website
31 October 2017 | Virtual transmission of Reformation Day celebrations from all around the globe in 24-hour sequence.
LWF hermeneutics workshop
13-16 June 2016 | Three day workshop to harvest the fruits of the LWF hermeneutics process and prepare a statement on Lutheran biblical interpretation
LWF Council 2016 in Wittenberg
16-21 June 2016 | The Council will discuss a number of important items related to Reformation 2017. During the meeting, the Luther Garden, initiated by the German National Committee, will be handed over to the public.
Women on the Move publication
Reformation Day 2016 | LWF women theologians networks will publish contributions on women in theology and stories of women reformers.
Anglican-Lutheran study material
Advent 2016 | Material for congregations on the main theme of Reformation 2017, “Liberated by God’s Grace,” will be published.
Living Reformation projects
Throughout 2016 | Members of the Global Young Reformers Network will launch Living Reformation projects based on ideas from the Wittenberg conference in 2015.
As a communion, we are journeying towards the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017.
Salvation – Not for Sale
Salvation is God’s free gift— this is the central message of the doctrine of justification. It expresses a clear critique of concepts that treat salvation as a commodity on the “religious market.”
Human beings – Not for Sale
Every person is created in the image of God and must be fully respected in her/his dignity and integrity. Practices that create or increase poverty need to be critically addressed by churches.
Creation – Not for Sale
Nature has to be fully respected and protected as God’s good creation, entrusted to human care. It cannot be subject to exploitative human domination nor can its resources be exploited as commodities.
