Council concludes in Ethiopia, welcomes four new member churches

Council members welcome four new churches with joy, issue statements of concern over conflicts and humanitarian crisis

(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council concluded its meeting in Addis Ababa on 16 June, welcoming four new Lutheran churches as full members of the global communion. Council members issued four public statements, expressing their concerns over the humanitarian and development aid crisis, the war against Ukraine, calling for peace and protection of life in Palestine, and expressing solidarity with people and churches in Africa.

Referring to the theme of the meeting ‘Be my witnesses’, LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær said the “praying and studying the Bible together, reflecting on the LWF’s work, and learning from the vibrant witness of our member church in Ethiopia, has strengthened our global Lutheran communion. We leave Addis Ababa with a stronger call to be witnesses of Christ, nurturing the seeds of faith in our own congregations and societies.”

The Council was hosted by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). Having representatives from so many Lutheran churches in countries around the world gather in Addis Ababa, was a powerful symbol of “one family coming together to pray and to listen to the Word of God,” said EECMY President Rev. Dr Yonas Dibisa, who is also the LWF Vice-President for Africa.

Venue for LWF Fourteenth Assembly

The 12 to 16 June meeting ended with a closing prayer in the Ethiopian capital, where delegates had discussed work of the global communion and priorities for the coming year. A highlight of the meeting was the decision to host the Fourteenth LWF Assembly in the historic reformation city of Augsburg in 2030. The Bavarian city in southern Germany will be the venue for an Assembly which will also be an occasion to mark the 500^th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, a foundational confessional document for Lutheran churches around the globe.

The Council heard from a keynote speaker, Rev. Dr Lesmore Ezekiel of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, currently serving as director of programs at the All-Africa Council of Churches. Reflecting on the theme of the meeting, ‘Be my witnesses’ (Acts 1:8), the Nigerian church leader asked “what does it mean to witness,” not only to the coming of God’s kingdom, but also for “the transformation of unjust systems, oppressive structures, toxic ideologies and inhumane logics that suffocate human life.”

The church, Rev. Ezekiel said, “cannot be neutral in the face of injustice.” He insisted: “To be authentic witnesses of the good news is to be courageous to challenge systems and structures that perpetuate and sustain poverty.” But above all, he said, witnessing means to “preach, evangelize and make disciples who will act justly, be compassionate and be humble in their walk with God and service to all creation.”

A revised LWF Advocacy Framework, titled ‘Action for Justice and Hope’, was launched during the meeting. It is aligned with the new LWF strategy and will guide the advocacy work of the communion through 2031.

New member churches in Cambodia, Indonesia, India

On the final day of the meeting, Council members voted to approve applications for full LWF membership from the Lutheran Church in Cambodia, from the Gereja Niho Keriso Protestan Church in Indonesia, and from two churches that were previously part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States – the Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church. This brings the number of member churches to 154.

In addition, the Council approved for the first time an application from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Gambia, welcoming it to get to know the LWF through participation in activities, programs and meetings, before receiving it into full membership after two years.

The Council prayed for the new member churches, their witness and work, at the concluding worship service.

The Council also approved a reconfiguration of the Office of the General Secretary in the LWF Communion Office which will strengthen its planning and coordination functions and increase the strategic financial capacity.

Statements of concern for Gaza, Ukraine, Africa

The Council issued four public statements relating to issues of current concern, beginning with the “global landscape for international development, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding,” which the Council say is “undergoing a troubling change.” Funding for “life-saving humanitarian work” is decreasing, the statement notes, while “national interests such as militarization and increased military expenditure” are being prioritized.

A second statement condemns “the dire situation in Gaza,” reiterating the LWF’s call for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and appealing for a just solution to the crisis in the region. The statement condemns “the Israeli blockade of Gaza and systematic denial of humanitarian assistance,” and “denounces the continued captivity of Israeli hostages by Hamas, "as well as the detention of Palestinian prisoners by Israel without charge.”

Another statement approved by the Council deplores the ongoing war against Ukraine and calls for “an immediate withdrawal of the Russian military” from that country. It calls on the international community to work towards a lasting peaceful resolution of the conflict and urges LWF member churches to continue accompanying “Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees through prayer, actions and advocacy.”

Finally, the Council expressed solidarity with African churches and people, noting that conflict and political instability threaten the lives of millions of people on the continent. The statement speaks of “the devastating impacts of the climate emergency,” as well as the disproportionate impact that this and other crises have on women and girls. The statement praises the life-saving work of LWF's World Service Program in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.

"For the LWF, faith must be lived out and practiced through service to our neighbour," said LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt. “Words are important, but our love and care for the neighbour and for creation must find an expression in how we act and witness. As a global communion, the LWF acts on behalf of its member churches. During turbulent and merciless times, we offer an alternative story, that is grounded in grace, committed to justice, sharing hope with the world,” she added.