Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

August 30- September 6

The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation

“The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation,” is the theme of the LWF Council Meeting, August 30- September 6. The meeting which will be held in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) will be attended by around 170 people from all over the world, including the 49-member Council, invited guests, stewards, interpreters, journalists and LWF staff persons. There are around 100 church representatives including the 49-member Council attending this year’s meeting at the International Center of Bethlehem, part of the ministry of the ELCJHL. In addition there are participants consisting of interpreters, invited guests, LWF staff persons and stewards. There are also a LWF Youth Meeting and other pre-Council meetings taking place as well as a Post Pilgrimage Program offered to the participants of the Council. The host Church ELCJHL is inviting for a Cultural Evening and the participants will be visiting the local congregations, schools and projects as well as the programmes of the LWF in Jerusalem. The Council is the LWF governing body between Assemblies, normally held every six years. The current Council was elected at the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada, where it held its first meeting. The Council comprises the President, the Treasurer and ordained as well as lay persons drawn from the LWF member churches, of which ELCJHL is one.

LWF’s work through its Departments for Mission and Development, Theology and Studies, and World Service, and Offices for Communication Services, Ecumenical Affairs, Finance and Administration, and International Affairs and Human Rights The Council is responsible for the business of the Federation between Assemblies. It elects and directs the work of the General Secretary and the Treasurer. The Council decides on the structure of the LWF Headquarters, sets the budgets of the Federation and presents report to the member churches The Council meets annually and consists of the President, who is elected by the Assembly, the Treasurer, who can be elected from among the membership or from outside, and 48 people elected by the Assembly. The LWF Constitution stipulates that Council membership should have "due representation" of ordained and lay persons, women, men and youth. The Council elects five Vice-Presidents from among its membership. In view of the global nature of the Federation, the President, Vice-Presidents, and the Treasurer are so elected that one person comes from each of the seven geographical areas: Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean, North America, Central and Eastern Europe. Bishop Munib Younan is Vice President representing Asia and the Middle East. Kjell Jonasson