30 September 2025, Paris, France: Rev. Rivka Schunk from southern Germany (right) was one of the leaders at a remembrance of Baptism as part of opening worship at an LWF European Youth Gathering taking place in Paris. Right to left: Rev. Rivka Schunk (Germany), Sophie Schenk (Germany) and Krzysztof Londzin (Poland). Photo: A. Hillert/ LWF
Youth from Europe gather in Paris from 30 September to 3 October to discuss peace
A Lutheran World Federation (LWF) European Youth Gathering is underway in Paris, France, bringing together 60 young Lutheran leaders from across Europe from 30 September to 3 October 2025 under the theme of ‘Promises of Peace’.
Rooted in the biblical assurance from Jesus in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”, the opening of the event on 30 September saw the young leaders gather in worship and in reflection on what peace means in the European region today, as well as globally.
The first of a set of such regional youth gatherings, the week in Paris sees participation both by representatives from member churches of the three European LWF regions, and by young people from other regions currently living and serving in Europe.
Just over two years since the conclusion of the LWF Thirteenth Assembly in Krakow, Poland, the young leaders will take stock of priorities and mandates that came out of that gathering. These include key priorities as defined in the regional and global youth messages voiced in Krakow such as climate justice and ecotheology, inclusive and accessible churches, and mental health, as well as work towards an intergenerational justice policy mandated by the Assembly itself — a process to which this and forthcoming regional youth gatherings will be contributing.
“With the theme of ‘Promises of Peace’, this event invites Lutheran youth from across Europe to explore connections of faith and peace through a variety of lenses,” explained LWF Program Executive for Youth Savanna Sullivan.
“These include the lenses of self, community, and the wider world. Grounded in the Gospel, our shared theology as the LWF emphasizes that peace is not only a hope, it is a promise from God, and God’s promises of peace are connected to our daily call to work for justice, dignity for all creation, and inclusive community,” she added.
Peace within, peace in community, peace in the world
A message from Dr Ulrich Rüsen-Weinhold of the hosting church, the United Protestant Church of France, underlined that coming together from different European regions and different ecclesial situations provides an opportunity for the young leaders “to get to know your respective Churches, your history, your current context in society,” and ”to build relationships, share experiences and reflect together spiritually for the witness of the Gospel today.”
Three thematic foci — peace within, peace in community, peace in the world — will guide reflections and community life during the days in Paris, serving as a foundation for further action towards realising God’s promise of peace.
For Vítek Sláma of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, the focus on peace is not a one-off item on the agenda. Earlier this year, Slama attended the LWF’s Peace Messenger training in Guatemala, and is now part of the planning team behind the European Youth Gathering.
LWF Program Executive for Youth Savanna Sullivan shares a reflection during opening worship at the European Youth Gathering. Photo: A. Hillert/ LWF
Vitek Slama (centre) from the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and other participants pictured at the European Youth Gathering. Photo: A. Hillert/ LWF
People work to get to know each other better on the opening day of the European Youth Gathering in Paris. Photo: A. Hillert/ LWF
“I hope for us all to get to know new people with new perspectives on our lives, on the way of how we can think about peace and about other people than ourselves,” Sláma reflected. “When I am at home, my mind becomes in a way ‘old-minded’ or ‘closed-minded’, and events like this really help to open yourself up for new ideas.”
With all the crises, wars and polarization around the world, he noted, “it's important for us to get together, to see each other. To be able to build peace, it's important to meet and to discuss ideas, but also by meeting up and discussing these ideas, we are already creating peace in a sense,” he added.
Rev. Veronica Pålsson, a young LWF Council member from the Church of Sweden, led the opening worship at the European Youth Gathering, and serves as part of the planning team.
“I hope the people who’ve come here, that when they leave, they feel inspired and they feel that there is hope in the world and that peace is possible,” Pålsson reflected.
“I think this week we will create a new generation of LWF young leaders who will continue to contribute and form the work of LWF and to build a network of cool and inspiring and engaged people to both support each other in their local churches and contribute to the work of LWF at a global level,” she added.
LWF regional secretary for Europe, Rev. Dr Ireneusz Lukas, offered a reflection on the topic ‘Let peace begin within,’ focusing on peace and its presence or absence in parts of Europe today. Lukas noted the importance of the timing of the ongoing youth gathering in Paris, as it immediately precedes and connects with an LWF European Church Leadership Consultation taking place in Riga, Latvia, from 6-9 October, and which will also be attended by several of the young leaders currently onsite at the Paris gathering.
