March 19, 2008
A Reflection by Rev. Teresita “Tita” Valeriano
LWF Regional Officer for North America
Belonging to a Communion of Churches: A
Gift of Relationship
When you hear the
“Lutheran World Federation,” what comes first to your mind? A young
mother arriving at a refugee camp with her children? A farming
community in Cambodia benefiting from a LWF drilled deep well? Then
followed by an urge to respond by sending help to those who are
suffering in different parts of the world?
All of these are stories
are indeed part of the work of the LWF, THAT WE ALL A PART OF. We
are truly living up to the phrase “68 Million Lutherans Do Make a
Difference”. But we also all know that LWF is more than this amidst
our violent and broken world.
Being in Communion is
a gift. Our unity is a gift from God that we celebrate. The
visible unity of 140 member churches in 78 countries does not only
make a difference in the lives of those who are marginalized: the
refugees and those in war and conflict, those infected and affected
by HIV and AIDS, the poor, the indigenous people, women and youth;
ALL OF US are transformed by this gift of relationship. Loving God
and our neighbors is embodied in our communion.
Being in Communion is
a vision. Relationships evolve and grow. When LWF started in
1948, its main goal was to attend to the needs of refugees primarily
in Europe with a handful of Lutheran churches in the Northern
hemisphere. But towards the end of the 20th
century, the federation’s relationship deepened as it included the
voices of the churches from the South that the journey from
federation to communion has begun. We continue in this walk, finding
ways to work together beyond relief and development and centering on
our faith living and expressing it in altar and pulpit relationship.
Living as a Communion
is transforming and empowering. Experiencing this gift of
relationship is the most exciting part of being in Communion. Though
separated by distance, diversity of culture and historical
background as faith communities, we know who we are and what this
gift of loving God and others empowered us to do. Here in North
America, member churches in the United States and Canada are
inspired to work together in areas of ministry and advocacy, and
share experiences and resources.
As I begin my new call as
the LWF Regional Officer here in North America, I hope that you at
the grassroots actively participate in living out this gift of
relationship which sometimes could be too big or too far to grasp
and experience. So how can the six million Lutherans in North
America live, celebrate and promote the gift of relationship as a
communion, wherever you are in North America?
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Be and stay
informed. You are a part of a communion that is dynamic
because of the gift of grace and its impact in our lives. Things
are happening around us and we respond to them as a communion.
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Share and learn.
Give and receive. And tell your stories. It is
important that we hear the cries and stories of the suffering
people so that we can respond as part of healing. But we forget
that sharing is an experience both of the giver and the
receiver. We, in North America, receive different kinds of gift,
some of them are not in monetary terms, from our Lutheran family
all over the world, that strengthen our faith and/or challenge
us the way we live out our faith.
-
Pray for the
LWF member churches, its leaders and the mission we do around
the world.
-
Celebrate our
diversity and what holds us together in unity. First Sunday of
October is designated as LWF Sunday.
-
Connect people and
create a space in your local congregation/community where
empowerment for global communion happens.
And there are more. Being
and living as a communion of churches is an exciting part of our
faith journey. I am excited to serve you all in ways where lives are
changed and visions are reached. I invite you to be a part of making
our communion alive and in embodying this gift of relationship.
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