Lutherans from around the globe gather for closing worship at the LWF Thirteenth Assembly, held in Krakow, Poland on 13-19 September 2023 under the theme of ’One Body, One Spirit, One Hope’. Photo: LWF/Johanan Celine Valeriano
The meeting at China Lutheran seminary will launch a communion-wide renewal of mission in the modern world
(LWI) - The Lutheran churches in Taiwan will be hosting a Global Mission Consultation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) from 18 to 21 May at the seminary, located just outside the island’s capital of Taipei City. LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt will give a keynote address to the gathering, exploring the theme of ‘Embodying Hope: Renewing Mission in a Wounded World’.
The four-day gathering, which is supported by key LWF mission partners, begins with Sunday worship at Hsin-Yi church, followed by an introduction to the life and ministries of the Lutheran churches in Taiwan. The consultation forms the first part of a communion-wide initiative to support member churches and partners in the process of re-evaluating the meaning of holistic mission in the 21st century.
Participants will begin building on the landmark LWF document ‘Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment’, published in 2004. They will reflect on key changes of the past two decades, including ongoing conflicts, a worsening climate emergency and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strengthening theological foundations for mission
LWF’s director for Theology, Mission and Justice, Rev. Dr Sivin Kit said: “This gathering comes in response to the call, issued at the 2023 LWF Assembly in Kraków, to develop a process that can re-examine what holistic mission means amid the challenges of our world today. Enriched by ecumenical contributions and in the context of differing interfaith realities, we hope the meeting will be an opportunity for shared theological reflection, strategic conversations and mutual learning for all participants.”
The consultation aims to strengthen the theological foundations and framework within which churches and mission partners plan and carry out their work. It also hopes to increase opportunities for collaboration and networking to enable churches to better respond to mission-related challenges in their different contexts.
This global consultation will serve as a launch for other regional meetings, both in person and online, enabling all member churches to engage in enhanced theological reflection and strategic thinking about their role as participants in carrying out God’s mission in contemporary society. The consultations will be followed by the production of resources that can contribute to a renewed understanding and practice of mission for the global Lutheran communion.
