IECLB celebrates 200 years of Lutheran presence
(LWI) - In 2024 the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) marks "200 years of Lutheran presence in Brazil" with the theme from Matthew 28.20: "I am with you always, to the end of the age." Particularly memorable dates in this anniversary year are 3 May and 24 July, when the first Lutheran immigrants from Europe arrived in southern Brazil. They arrived in Nova Friburgo/Rio de Janeiro and São Leopoldo/Rio Grande do Sul, respectively.
Some celebrations were originally planned for this date in São Leopoldo. Instead, however, the historic event was commemorated with a national online service on 28 July. In May, heavy rainfall and flooding, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, left the area in a state of disaster, meaning that emergency aid for those affected, as well as clean-up and reconstruction work, remains a priority.
"In this anniversary year, we are focusing on our being church in this country and our role in this society – and not on 200 years of German immigration history," emphasized Rev. Sílvia Genz, Pastor President of the IECLB. "We want to be the church of Jesus Christ in Brazil." The flood and its effects have put this focus to an unplanned test, which the church faces with outstanding commitment.
Developing perspectives for the future
Before the flooding, a big mission conference (Fórum de Missão) was also part of the anniversary year in April. Delegates from all 18 synods – ordained and lay, men and women, old and young – of the IECLB met in São Leopoldo to develop the church's visions, goals and strategies for 2025 to 2030. "We worked on four topics, each of which is intended to help define our future path together as a church," says Genz. The topics were gospel and mission, education and training for full-time and voluntary workers, justice from economic, ethnic, ecological and gender perspectives, as well as administration, management and communication. The results are now being discussed and coordinated in working groups. The national church council should adopt the goals at their meeting in October.
"The lively participation in the Fórum de Missão has given me a lot of hope," said the pastor president, as the IECLB faces internal and external challenges. Maintaining and strengthening the church's unity is at the top of the list of priorities.
