The newly elected Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met for the first time on 17 May in Windhoek, Namibia. The Council was elected during the Twelfth Assembly. During the meeting the Council elected seven vice-presidents and chairpersons of committees. Together they make up the Meeting of Officers, the committee which manages LWF affairs between council meetings. The Council will hold its next meeting in June and July 2018.
The elected LWF Vice-Presidents for the seven regions
Africa: Rev. Dr Jeannette Ada Maina, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
Asia: Ms Desri Maria Sumbayak, The Indonesian Christian Church
Central Eastern Europe: Archbishop Urmas Viilma, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Central Western Europe: Pröpstin Astrid Kleist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
Nordic Countries: Archbishop Antje Jackelén, Church of Sweden
Latin America and the Caribbean: Rev. Dr Nestor Friedrich, President, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
North America: Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Committee chairpersons
Finance Committee: Oberkirchenrat Olaf-Johannes Mirgeler, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
Committee for World Service: Bishop Henrik Stubkjaer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
Committee for Theology and Public Witness: Rev. Dr Robin Steinke, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Committee for Mission and Development: Rev. Yonas Yigezu Dibisa, President, The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
Standing Committee for Communications, co-chair:
Rev. Karla Steilmann, Evangelical Church of the River Plate (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay)
Mr Johanan Celine Valeriano, Lutheran Church in the Philippines
Standing Committee for Constitution and Membership: Ms Ranjita Borgoary, Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (India)
Standing Committee for Advocacy and Public Voice: Ms Vera Tkach, Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Russia and Other States