One fast. One day. Every month.

In two months time, the communities around the globe will agree a new climate deal, which - we hope - will slow the rate of carbon emissions and support the most vulnerable communities bearing the greatest burden of the effect of climate change. 

The LWF is behind a global fasting movement on the first day each month until December 2015 when the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change takes place in France. Fasting is a long-standing spiritual practice found in many religious traditions. As both individuals of faith and religious communities worldwide, we fast in many different places for many different reasons. We fast for climate justice.

So Why Do We Fast?

Fasting for climate justice offers people of faith and religious communities an opportunity to address concerns for climate change.

It is a way to:

- expresses common faith, spiritual and ethical values

- urge national governments to be more ambitious in climate change negotiations

- re-think how people of faith and religious communities can both live their lives and re-commit themselves to a responsible and sustainable way of life

- to commit ourselves to the care of creation and preserve this world for future generations

Recently when members of the Global Young Reformers' Network (GYRN) gathered in Wittenberg , Germany, they demonstrated their solidarity with the Fast for the Climate campaign by participating in activities calling attention to climate justice.

Our Partners in Solidarity are Growing

On 1 October, newly-appointed leaders of LWF member churches will also be showing their support by participating in Fast for the Climate activities in Geneva, Switzerland.

Partners

• 18 Million Rising
• 350.org
• Avaaz
• Climate Action Network
• Climate Justice Network
• Forecast the Facts
• Friends of the Earth
• Global Call for Climate Action
• Move On
• World Council of Churches
• ACT Alliance

What You Can Do: 

Follow the campaign: 

#fastfortheclimate using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Join Fast

Celebrating Girls Worldwide

Just two years ago, the United Nations declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC). It is a day dedicated to observing more opportunities for girls, but also to drawing attention to the blatant inequality that girls face worldwide, strictly based upon their gender. Inequality often takes the forms of denied access to education, legal rights, nutrition, medical care and protection from discrimination, violence, and even forced early marriage.

This year the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), along with many other global organizations, will shine a spotlight on inequalities related to education, one of 17 areas of focus outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which were issued in September 2015. 

According to the UN report, 103 million youth worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 percent of them are female.  This means that 62 million girls are not in school and this statistic must change. 

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving lives. While major progress has been made toward increasing access to education for everyone, there is still a lot more work that must be done before girls reach educational parity with their young male counterparts.

In 2015 girls around the world are speaking out boldly, demanding their right to receive a quality education. Let's show our support in helping girls everywhere make their voices heard .

Get Involved

Use your voice via social media using the following hashtags:

• #IDG2015
• #Dayofthegirl
• #GirlPower
• #62milliongirls
• #LetGirlsLearn

Interact with us on:

• Twitter
• Facebook

One fast. One day. Every month.

In less than a month, the communities around the globe will agree a new climate deal, which - we hope - will slow the rate of carbon emissions and support the most vulnerable communities bearing the greatest burden of the effect of climate change. 

The LWF is behind a global fasting movement on the first day each month until December 2015 when the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change takes place in France. Fasting is a long-standing spiritual practice found in many religious traditions. As both individuals of faith and religious communities worldwide, we fast in many different places for many different reasons. We fast for climate justice.

So Why Do We Fast?

Fasting for climate justice offers people of faith and religious communities an opportunity to address concerns for climate change.

It is a way to:

- expresses common faith, spiritual and ethical values

- urge national governments to be more ambitious in climate change negotiations

- re-think how people of faith and religious communities can both live their lives and re-commit themselves to a responsible and sustainable way of life

- to commit ourselves to the care of creation and preserve this world for future generations

Partners

• 18 Million Rising
• 350.org
• Avaaz
• Climate Action Network
• Climate Justice Network
• Forecast the Facts
• Friends of the Earth
• Global Call for Climate Action
• Move On
• World Council of Churches
• ACT Alliance

What You Can Do: 

Follow the People's Pilgrimage:

Learn more

Follow the campaign: 

#fastfortheclimate using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Join Fast

30 November - 11 December, Paris, France will be the scene of a concerted global effort to mobilize action on climate change.

For the LWF, climate change is a question of justice, peace, the care for creation, and human rights. It is also a question of justice between people, nations, and generations. As a young delegation, and people of faith, we have an intergenerational responsibility to care for creation and stand in solidarity with our neighbor. 

Because the LWF wants to be part of the solution, in June 2015, its Council voted not invest in fossil fuels.

The LWF at COP 21 in Paris

The LWF's interest in climate change is not new.  In fact, institutional memory on matters involving climate change and climate justice dates back to 1977 at the Sixth LWF Assembly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and since 2013, the LWF Climate Delegation has been making its presence known at COP negotiations, advocating for climate justice and standing in solidarity with those most impacted by the effects of climate change. 

This year, the LWF Climate Delegation will be at the forefront at COP21 in Paris to advocate for climate justice on behalf of the entire LWF communion.  Comprised of seven young people from various nations, the LWF delegation will participate in a number of activites, including the final "Fast for the Climate” campaign, which ends on 1 December.  

Watch Reflections from COP21

Watch Press Conferences

Follow the events!

#fastfortheclimate using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Visit LWF climate page

Fast and Feast

Find a local event

Partners

Since 2013 members of the LWF climate delegation and people of all walks of life from over 90 countries around the world have been performing one simple action:  fasting on the first of the month, every month for one day. By doing so, the hope has been to be in solidarity with the most vulnerable and to call on global leaders to reach a new and fair, binding and ambitious climate deal in Paris, which would lead to decarbonization by the middle of the century and build resilience among the most vulnerable communities who suffer the greatest effects of climate change.

The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meets in Paris, France -- from 30 November until 11 December 2015. As this will be an important milestone in the political process about climate change, communities from all around the globe also will gather together to make their voices heard by fasting one last time on the evening of 30 November through lunchtime on 1 December. At dinner, communities will break the fast and feast to celebrate our unity and the solutions for a better future.

So why do we fast?

Fasting is a long-standing spiritual practice found in many religious traditions. As both individuals of faith and religious communities worldwide, we fast to underline the urgency of the negotiations on climate change.  We fast in many different places for many different reasons. We fast for climate justice.

Fasting for climate justice offers people of faith and religious communities an opportunity to address concerns for climate change.

It's a way to:

- express common faith, spiritual and ethical values

- urge world leaders to set the world on a path to completely phase out fossil fuel emissions and phase in 100 percent renewable energy by 2015, with sustainable energy access for all

- call on the leaders of those countries who are less vulerable to the climate crisis to take real steps to meet their commitments to the world's most climate vulnerable people

- re-think how both people of faith and religious communities can live their lives and re-commit themselves to a responsible and sustainable way of life                            

- commit ourselves for the care of creation and preserve this world for future generations

- inspire people worldwide to reconsider their own consumption patterns and -- in particular -- adopt a mindful, conscious relationship with food

What You Can Do: 

Follow the campaign: 

#fastfortheclimate using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Join Fast and Feast

Partners

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic Church jointly held an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation on 31 October 2016 in Lund, Sweden.

Locally co-hosted by the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, the event highlighted the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue, particularly in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017. It was held in two parts: a common prayer service in Lund Cathedral and a public event at Malmö Arena.

The cathedral service followed the Common Prayer liturgical guide, based on the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue report From Conflict to Communion. Malmö Arena was stage for activities focusing on the commitment to common witness and service of Catholics and Lutherans in the world. Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge led the common prayer service and arena event in conjunction with leaders from Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm. Proceeds from Malmö Arena ticket sales were earmarked to support projects of The Lutheran World Federation and Caritas Internationalis with Syrian refugees in the Middle East.

tickets

Livestream

Both the liturgy in Lund Cathedral and the event in Malmö Arena will be livestreamed.  The schedule is as follows:

14:30 CET Common Prayer in Lund Cathedral

16:45 CET Together in Hope in Malmö Arena

LIVESTREAM

Follow this event

#Togetherinhope #Lund2016 using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Posters

Download the poster

Final version

Printer crop version

Photos and video

Photos and video posted to the Church of Sweden site. Available for use, provided correctly credited.

Photos Video

Frequently asked questions

Joint Commemoration News

Milestones in 50 years of dialogue

Buy tickets

Malmö Arena tickets

Buy tickets

Tickets for public event available here

Media accreditation

Media accreditation

Media accreditation

Sing up to cover the Commemoration

Lund website

Joint Commemoration website

Lund website

Information and updates on the Commemoration

Story

Together in Hope in Malmö Arena

Story

Seating for 10,000 at Malmö event

Story

A symbol of life and hope

Story

Painting the official cross of the Joint Commemoration

Press release

Joint Ecumenical Commemoration to be held Lund Cathedral, Malmö Arena

Press release

Liturgy in cathedral followed by public event at arena

Interview

What unites us is stronger than what divides us

Interview

Member churches should deepen relations with the Catholic Church globally and at the grassroots

Press release

Joint Ecumenical Commemoration of the Reformation in Lund

Press release

Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Younan and General Secretary Junge to lead October event

Read the prayer

Common prayer

Read the prayer

Joint prayer for the Reformation Commemoration

Good management and work practice are critical in carrying out diakonia, or service to the community. Even with the best of intentions, sustainable results are impossible in the absence of core competencies.

Following on from two similar conferences in recent years, which enabled over 400 people from around the world to take part, this third virtual conference on diakonia focuses on enhancing the ability of member churches to offer practical, life-changing programs to the most vulnerable people in their communities.

People from the LWF communion are invited to join. Registration is free

By sharing resources and coming up with new ideas, churches are better equipped to serve. Good management helps churches respond to the unique challenges facing their communities. Participants will discuss:

- what do we do diakonia for? What is good management that makes our work effective?

- how can we measure effectiveness? what is the role of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting in good management?

- how can we improve management at different levels of a project?

- how can we best use existing networks and resources?

Management for Effective Diakonia is a virtual event during which content is shared and participants communicate in real-time via the internet. In order for participants from all over the world and different time zones to join, all events in the programme will be repeated.

Follow the event!

#diakonia2016 Facebook, Twitter

Conference registration

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Conflict in communities, the European refugee crisis and the notion of being uprooted urge “convivial approaches” to church and society. Representatives of 16 European countries will explore theological reflections on hospitality, grounding the art and practice of living together in Europe and with neighbors seeking refuge in Europe.

Meeting participants will learn about Estonian social realities and diaconal responses using the “street retreat”: a method that starts with context and relates to biblical and theological topics. Drawing from its own vocation and diaconal experience, participants will explore the concept of “conviviality” and its implications for institutions, including the church and for empathy-based politics.

From this five-year conviviality process, ideas for action locally, nationally and internationally will be drawn. The outcomes will be part of the European churches’ contributions to the LWF Assembly and the Reformation Anniversary in 2017.

Link to 2017 Reformation commemoration

Since the beginning of Lutheranism, key aspects of Luther’s theology on serving the neighbor and on economic ethics have been prominent. The outcomes of the process will be a contribution by European churches to the Assembly and the Reformation anniversary.

The European Diaconal Process links to the overall LWF Communion identity to be committed “with Passion for the Church and for the World”. Conviviality focusses on holistic mission, integrating witness, service and advocacy. Communion-building is supported in and across Europe, among diaconal actors and educators, and among member churches.

The process aims to develop common theological understanding of key social and diaconal issues in Europe, contributing to transforming and empowering diaconal performance.

Representatives of LWF member churches in Myanmar, Hungary, Zimbabwe and Honduras will come to Hanover, Germany to put their case for project funding and to discuss contemporary problems that affect their countries, with the LWF's Department of Mission and Development. The DMD sub-committee is holding its annual meeting to approve development projects in the member churches. Approved projects will then be presented to the LWF Council at its June meeting for final approval.

Some 23 projects have been shortlisted, from countries around the world.



Agenda

Participants

Member Church Projects page

The Pre-Assembly Youth Conference invites all youth delegates and stewards to the LWF Twelfth Assembly to come together and become strong, informed and inspired representatives of their generation at the Assembly.

Some 75 youth delegates and 25 stewards will meet in the north Namibia town of Ondangwa from May 3 to 9.

The program is designed to allow delegates and stewards to:

• learn from each other’s church and society
• prepare content and skills to enable them to take part fully at the Assembly
• get to know the Namibian host church and youth work

Elements of the agenda:

• learn from outcomes of the Global Young Reformers Network (regional themes, Workshop Wittenberg, Living Reformation projects)
• learn from LWF youth work and youth participation 2010-2017
• train in Assembly procedures
• carry out preparation for the Assembly themes
• agree on major directions
• develop LWF youth message and youth presentations to the Assembly
• visit congregations and youth work in north Namibia
• have fun on Safari Day

If you're attending, prepare yourself by checking the Global Young Reformers Network site and following LWFyouth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Regular virtual seminars and online Assembly preparation will be announced.