The church’s role in transforming societies will be the focal point of this year’s meeting of the three LWF regions in Europe (Central Eastern Europe, Central Western Europe, Nordic Countries).

The fifty-five participants include LWF Council members, representatives of National Committees, Women in Church and Society regional representatives and church ecumenical officers.

They will explore new models of being church today in light of the shift from churches in Europe being a leading ethical and social player to simply one of many civil society actors.

Topics include:

• new ways of networking
• perspectives of the church as a “guest” in society
• pilot projects aiming to strengthen church members’ faith identity
• diaconal outreach to young people and people in need
• missional outreach to young people

The European church leaders will consider regional follow-up to LWF women and gender programs and reflection on the self-understanding of the communion.

A panel, including Kurt Cardinal Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will focus on ecumenical preparations for the Reformation anniversary in 2017.

Through the host church Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy, the group will learn about contributions that a numerically small church can make to society.

Department: Department for Mission and Development - Europe Desk

Program: Relationships and Identity, Reformation 2017

Event series: Annual pan-European regional consultations

Language:  English

Youth, women and LWF Council advisors come together before the 2015 LWF Council meeting to share ideas about ensuring their interests are incorporated in the council discussion and learn about developments in program areas.

The meeting also gives space for strategic planning so that gender and generational concerns feature in council deliberations and, consequently, the overall work of the LWF.

The 2015 pre-council meeting focuses on:

• youth participation in the communion
• the project “Women in the ongoing Reformation”
• implementation of the LWF gender justice policy

In this side-event to the Human Rights Council, faith-based organizations present practical examples of overcoming violence against women and girls in communities, based on an ethic of resistance to injustice. The churches’ practice and theological reflection are part and parcel of the critical approach to faith and religion. This approach can help to dismantle the often dangerous connection between religion and culture that relegates women to the domestic sphere where violence most frequently occurs.



The LWF is a convening partner, alongside the World Council of Churches, Islamic Relief Worldwide and the World YWCA.



Panelists

• Moderator: Elaine Neuenfeldt, Lutheran World Federation, Program Secretary, Women in Church and Society
• Hendrica Okondo, World YWCA, Global Program Manager SRHR and HIV and AIDS
• Malayah Harper, UN AIDS, Chief, Gender Equality and Diversity
• Iman Sandra Pertek, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Senior Policy Advisor on Gender
• Fulata Lusungu Moyo, World Council of Churches, Program Executive, Women in Church and Society
  
  
  
  The panelists are encouraged to discuss the issues from multiple dimensions of Christian and Islamic theology and justice, education, health and social norms. Additionally, the convening organizations will deliver a joint oral statement, related to the panel discussion, during the June session of the Human Rights Council.   
  
   

This year's International Women’s Day theme is “Be Bold for Change” — a call on people to help forge a better working world - a more gender-inclusive world. It is a time to reflect on how far we've come and just how far we still must go before women around the world truly achieve gender justice.

On this day we recognize and celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide, but also remember those who suffer because of gender inequality.

In 2017, we especially think about the survivors of gender-based violence, which is increasingly used as a weapon to destroy communities in armed conflicts, such as in our featured story from the South Sudanese refugee crisis in Uganda. At the same time we recognize and celebrate the women who overcome traditional boundaries and who find their voice in advocating for the rights for others. Read and share the example of Basanti Chaudhary, who has been advocating against bonded labor and for the freedom of thousands of men and women in Nepal.

LWF supports survivors of gender-based violence in South Sudan. 

With hundreds of refugees still arriving in northern Uganda every day, it is an overwhelming challenge to protect the vulnerable and to support the survivors of gender-based violence.

Read more

LWF Gender Justice: Where are we today?

For this year’s international women’s day the WICAS have collected six examples highlighting where we stand with gender justice commitments. The presentation in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva will be followed by a Call to Action by LWF General Secretary Martin Junge.

We'll be live on the LWF Facebook Page at 3pm (Geneva Time)

WICAS website

Gender Justice Policy

LWF on Facebook

The dream of freedom

A former house servant becomes an advocate against bonded labor. Chaudhary joined a women's group formed by LWF and a local partner. LWF has been advocating against bonded labor in Nepal for 35 years. 

Read more

Get Involved

#BeBoldForChange on social media and reference your posts with #iwd2017 and #internationalwomensday

Interact with us on Twitter & Facebook

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

For the LWF gender justice is an essential part of being a communion of churches. LWF supports faith communities end practices that are harmful to women and girls, works with UN and civil society organizations to overcome discrimination and violence, educates women on their rights, supports member churches in their fight against gender imbalances.

This International Women’s Day, we re-affirm our commitment to gender justice and call upon our colleagues and member churches worldwide to do likewise.

Program

      8:30   Morning prayer in the Ecumenical Centre.

                Liturgy title: In recognition of International Women’s Day

      9:00 - 12.00   Workshop on the prevention of sexual harassment.

Globally, events are planned with the theme of #PressforProgress. Now, more than ever, there's a strong call to action to press forward and progress gender parity, to #PressforProgress.



Women in Church and Society website

Gender Justice Policy

Get Involved

#PressforProgress on social media and reference your posts with #IWD2018 and #InternationalWomensDay

Interact with us on Twitter & Facebook

International Women's Day News

View More News

LWF News

Burundi: Together on the road to resilience 7 June 2022 CANKUZO, Burundi/GENEVA Tanzania: new program on theology, gender and leadership 31 May 2022 ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA Venezuelan church prioritizes women’s needs on path toward livelihood recovery 30 May 2022 CARABOBO, Venezuela /GENEVA Indonesia: Passion for gender justice and eco-theology 27 May 2022 North Sumatra, Indonesia/GENEVA

Historically, women of the LWF Council have gathered to build a platform to engage and share wisdom with the Communion work related to women’s network and gender justice.

This is a first meeting of the full new Council (2017-2023), therefore the aim is to share with the participants the achievements and challenges related to the participation of women in leadership and in the ordained ministry; efforts to overcome gender discrimination and gender-based violence and tools for women in leadership positions in the member churches

The Pre-council women will discuss relevant Resolutions made at the Twelfth Assembly, providing some guidance on ways to move forward. The council women are key actors in building bridges between the women in the networks and the decision making body, namely, the LWF Council. A panel open also to men in the Council, will close this program on June 27.

Departments: Department for Theology and Public Witness with the Office of the General Secretary

Program: Women in Church and Society

LWF Women in Church and Society

Twelfth Assembly: Public Statements and Resolution

Council 2018

View All Resources

Resources

Women Advocacy Handbook 3 April 2019 A composition of articles that aims to strengthen the churches and FBOs capacity to advocate for women’s human rights from a faith perspective. The Participation of Women in the Ordained Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches 29 March 2017 A baseline assessment among LWF member churches carried forward in 2016 on the proportion of women in decision-making positions and in the ordained ministry. Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) LWF Gender Justice Policy 15 February 2017 An LWF framework for inclusive and sustainable communities, churches and programs throughout the global communion Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) Women on the Move postcards 14 March 2016 Series of six postcards shining the spotlight on the female heros of the Reformation movement Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019)

Women and Gender Justice Network

This meeting will be a moment to evaluate the journey, to discuss the lessons learned and harvesting results of the network to plan new steps ahead.

Department: Department for Theology and Public Witness

Program: Women in Church and Society

Red de Mujeres y Justicia de Género LAC

En esta reunión vamos evaluar la caminada de los últimos años, las lecciones aprendidas y cosecha de resultados para planear los próximos pasos de la Red de mujeres y justicia de genero LAC.

Departmento: Departmento para Teología y Relaciones Ecumenicas

Programa: Mujeres en la Iglesia y la Sociedad

Program / Programa

LWF Women in Church and Society

View More News

LWF News

Church in Paraguay pledges to support new anti-violence law 5 April 2018 ASUNCIÓN/Paraguay

Women of the LWF Council have historically gathered to build a platform to engage and share wisdom with the Communion work related to gender justice and the women’s network.

This is the third meeting of the full Council elected in the Assembly (2017-2023), therefore the aim is to follow up on Assembly resolutions, including experiences of women in the ordained ministry, Gender Justice Policy implementation, efforts to overcome gender discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence and tools for women in leadership positions in the member churches.

The council women are key leaders in building bridges between the women in the networks and the decision making body, namely, the LWF Council. A panel open also to men in the Council, will close this program on June 12.

Departments:Department for Theology and Public Witness with the Office of the General Secretary

Program: Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment

More information:

LWF Women in Church and Society

Council 2019

View All Resources

Resources

Council 2019 documents 5 June 2019 Download exhibits and other Council 2019 related documents Department for World Service Women Advocacy Handbook 3 April 2019 A composition of articles that aims to strengthen the churches and FBOs capacity to advocate for women’s human rights from a faith perspective. The Participation of Women in the Ordained Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches 29 March 2017 A baseline assessment among LWF member churches carried forward in 2016 on the proportion of women in decision-making positions and in the ordained ministry. Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019) LWF Gender Justice Policy 15 February 2017 An LWF framework for inclusive and sustainable communities, churches and programs throughout the global communion Department for Theology and Public Witness (until 2019)