The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Christian
churches in the Lutheran tradition. Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Mark
S. Hanson, is likewise current president of the LWF. Founded in 1947 in
Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 140 member churches in 78 countries
representing over 61.7 million of the 66 million Lutherans worldwide.
The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common
interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. The global offices are located
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Regional offices assist LWF member churches
within each region to catch the vision of a Lutheran communion. Regional
offices are located in Nairobi, Kenya, Bangkok, Thailand, Slovakia, and
Chicago, Illinois. The Regional Office in North America was established
in April 1998. The ELCA participates in LWF ministries with the help of
this office. One specific event in which we participate with this global
community is the celebration of LWF Sunday each fall.
The Lutheran World
Federation and the ELCA office for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
Relations cooperate with ELCA seminaries on an annual seminary January
Term (J-Term) in Geneva called: The Ecumenical Church in a Globalized
World: Implications for Ministry in North American Contexts, January
7-21, 2009 Read the
syllabus!.
View the
2007
January Term Pictures!
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Click on images for larger view. |
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In January, 2006, 30
students from different ELCA seminaries spent two weeks together,
studying and learning in Geneva about the ecumenical church in the
world. |
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ELCA seminary students
visited the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in France, meeting other
students from around the world who currently study at Bossey. |
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