God's Gift of Compassion

In New Year Message General Secretary Junge invites churches to seek inspiration from Reformation anniversary

(LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) encourages its member churches to find inspiration in the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year and guarantee a space where all people can experience “compassion, solidarity and justice.”

LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge in his 2017 New Year Message reminds the 145 churches in the global communion to be focused on the message of salvation by grace through faith alone and bear witness to God’s gift of compassion to a world struggling with conflict and alienation so that the churches become witnesses to God’s transforming power.

He invites the LWF member churches to uphold three principles for the Reformation anniversary: the Reformation is a global citizen, ecumenical accountability and the Reformation is ongoing. "As we commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation we should seize the opportunity to discern God’s call into mission in today's world."

I pray that God’s spirit be with each of the LWF member churches in this special year with its specific call to witness.

“I pray that God’s spirit be with each of the LWF member churches in this special year with its specific call to witness,” Junge adds.

The LWF will hold its Twelfth Assembly, 11-16 May, in Windhoek, Namibia. The highest governing body meeting will coincide with LWF’s official commemoration of the beginning of Martin Luther’s movement to reform the church 500 years ago.

Read LWF General Secretary Junge’s 2017 New Year Message in English, French, German and Spanish.