Strong commitment to mission, education and service

17 Apr 2024

LWF President Stubkjær is making a first visit to member churches of the global Lutheran communion, travelling this week to Tanzania and Ethiopia

LWF President Henrik Stubkjær and his delegation join ELCT leaders and head office staff for morning worship as their visit begins. Photo: LWF/A. Danielsson

LWF President Henrik Stubkjær and his delegation join ELCT leaders and head office staff for morning worship as their visit begins. Photo: LWF/A. Danielsson

LWF President Henrik Stubkjær makes first visit to member churches in Tanzania and Ethiopia

(LWI) - This week, the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, embarks on his first visit to member churches since his election last September at the Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland. President Stubkjær will meet with leaders and explore the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY).

"I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to witness firsthand the vibrant work and outreach of the ELCT and EECMY," said President Stubkjær. "Their strong commitment to mission, serving people in need, and to theological education is truly inspiring.”

The LWF president will visit to significant projects and institutions such as the Tumaini University Makumira and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, which are both run by the ELCT. He will also visit the Mekane Yesus Development Commission and the Mekane Yesus Seminary. Furthermore, Bishop Stubkjær will participate in a workshop on climate justice, focusing on renewable energy and green technology, in Moshi, Tanzania.

Joining President Stubkjær on this trip are Rev. Dr Yonas Dibisa Yigesu, Vice-President for Africa; Rev. Dr Samuel Dawai, Regional Secretary for Africa; Rev. Arni Danielsson, Head of Communication; Bishop Fredrick Onaeli Shoo, LWF Council member; and Ms. Loe Rose Mbise, Executive Director of the Lutheran Communion in Central and East Africa (LUCCEA).

LWF/A. Danielsson