Seventh Lay Leaders Seminar in Wittenberg and Geneva
(LWI) - This year’s Lay Leaders Seminar brings together 17 participants from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches across the globe for a time of learning, sharing, and spiritual growth.
“In our Lutheran tradition, lay people play an essential role,” says Rev. Katariina Kiilunen, LWF Program Executive for Capacity Building and Leadership Development. “We want to provide lay leaders from LWF member churches with the opportunity to reflect on the Lutheran understanding of church leadership and their vocation as non-ordained church leaders. Also, we want to provide insights into the work of the LWF and how they can effectively engage with it.”
Hosted by the LWF Center Wittenberg, Germany, the Lay Leaders Seminar started on 22 June.
“I have always wanted to go to the place where the Reformation started more than 500 years ago,” said Ms Maryan Molgo from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname. “Joining Sunday worship in St Mary’s church where Luther used to preach in his time was very special for me.”
It fascinated me to take the time to reflect on our Lutheran tradition and identity.
Jazmin Soto Mayta, Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
In Wittenberg, systematic theologian Rev. Dr Regina Chan Kit-Ling and New Testament theologian Rev. Dr Klaus Schaefer provided input on the biblical and theological background of “being church”, the visible and the invisible church and the concepts of the priesthood of all believers, the ordained ministry, and New Testament perspectives on “service” and “authority.”
“It fascinated me to take the time to reflect on our Lutheran tradition and identity,” said theology student Ms Jazmin Soto Mayta from the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
