Doctrinal Basis
The LWF confesses the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the only source and norm of its doctrine, life and service. It sees in the three Ecumenical Creeds and in the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, especially in the unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism of Martin Luther, a pure exposition of the Word of God.

LWF member churches confess the triune God, agree in the proclamation of the Word of God, and are united in pulpit and altar fellowship. The LWF confesses one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church and is resolved to serve Christian unity throughout the world. It acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as communication, ecumenical relations, human rights, humanitarian assistance, theology and the various aspects of mission and development.


WORLDWIDE LUTHERAN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP


WHAT DOES LWF DO?

The LWF now comprises 68 million and acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest, such as:

• ecumenical relations 
• theology 
• humanitarian assistance 
• human rights 
• communication 
• mission and development

The LWF secretariat is located in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, thus enabling close cooperation with the World Council of Churches and other Christian world communions.

LWF DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES

General Secretary (GS)
The Office of the General Secretary and the LWF Secretariat (Geneva, Switzerland)

General Secretary
Rev. Martin Junge (pictured at right with Dr. Ishmael Noko)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile

Deputy General Secretary
Rev. Dr. Chandran Paul Martin

Office for Ecumenical Affairs
The Office for Ecumenical Affairs develops and maintains bilateral ecumenical relationships with other Christian world communions; explores the issue of Lutheran identity in such relations; and encourages the process of reception.

Program Committee for Ecumenical Affairs
Chairperson
Rev. Dr. Joachim Track
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria

OEA Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs
Rev. Dr. Kathryn Johnson (Interim)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Office for International Affairs and Human Rights
The Office for International Affairs & Human Rights assists the General Secretary in developing and implementing policy on an international level, including issues relating to human rights, justice, peace and reconciliation; coordinates such activities with other units of the secretariat; and works with member churches to strengthen their ministry in these areas.

Standing Committee for International Affairs & Human Rights
Chairperson
Diadem Depayso
Lutheran Church in the Philippines

IAHR Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Assistant to the General Secretary for International Affairs & Human Rights
Mr. Peter N. Prove
Lutheran Church of Australia

Department for Mission and Development (DMD)
The Department for Mission & Development fosters the communion of member churches - by encouraging, supporting and working jointly with Lutheran churches, agencies and other groups to engage in holistic ministry.

DMD’s program activities concentrate on three integrated fields of witness: proclamation, advocacy and service. Its strategic focuses are communion formation, capacity building, and diaconia.

Program Committee for Mission and Development
Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson

Abigail Hoffman
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Project Committee Chairperson
Bishop Julius Filo
Evangelical (Lutheran) Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia

DMD Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Director (interim)
Drs. Jaap Schep
Protestant Church in the Netherlands

Secretary for Project Coordination & Administration
Ms Simangaliso Hove
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe

Secretary for Project Implementation & Monitoring
Dr. Jacob Koos Schep
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Area Secretary for Africa
Dr. Musa Filibus
Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria

Area Secretary for Asia
Rev. Ginda P. Harahap
Christian Protestant Angkola Church

Regional Coordinator for Asia (Bangkok, Thailand)
Ms. Sally Kee
Lutheran Church in Singapore

Area Secretary for Europe
Rev. Dr. Eva- Sybille Vogel Mfato

Area Secretary for Latin America & the Caribbean Region
..
..

Regional Expression Officer for North America (Chicago, USA)
Overseen by North America Regional Committee comprised of
ELCA, ELCIC and EELC representatives

Secretary for Women in Church & Society
Ms Priscilla Singh
The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church

Secretary for Youth in Church & Society
Rev. Roger Schmidt
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria

Secretary for Human Resources Development
Mr Abebe Yohannes Saketa
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus

Department for World Service (DWS)
The Department for World Service’s mandate is to “Bear witness in church and society to God’s healing, reconciliation and Justice.” It envisions people of the world living in just societies in peace and dignity, united in diversity, and empowered to achieve their universal rights, to meet basic needs and quality of life. Its mission is: Inspired by God’s love for humanity, World Service responds to and challenges the causes and consequences of human suffering and poverty. Its global strategic motto for 2007-2012 is from Psalm 82:3 “Uphold the rights of the poor and oppressed.”

Emergency funding appeals, usually benefiting refugees, are coordinated through ACT (Action by Churches Together) which is organizationally based in the LWF and the WCC (World Council of Churches).

DWS maintains 26 field offices: 14 in Africa, 5 in Asia, 3 in Eastern Europe, and 4 in Latin America and the Caribbean with a staff of about 6,000 who are mainly local workers.

Challenges include:

• continuing migration of large populations
• conflict
• insecurity and fragile peace
• globalization and poverty
• diminishing funds
• program transition for long term development.

Program Committee for World Service
Chairperson
Rev. Marie Barnett
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone

Vice-Chairperson
Rev. Emmanuel Grantson
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Standing Committee Chairperson
Bishop Julius D. Paul
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia

DWS Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Director
Rev. Eberhard Hitzler

Coordinator for Program Implementation
Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria
Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil

Program Secretary – Emergencies, Refugees and Internationally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Ms. Elsa Moreno

Program Secretary - Human Resource Development
Vacant

Program Secretary - Sustainable Development and Environment
Mr. Duane Poppe

Consultant for Resource Mobilization
Mr. Bobby Waddell

Secretary for Finance & Administration
Mr. Barry Lynam
Lutheran Church of Australia

Secretary for Evaluation & Planning
Ms. Maryssa Camaddo
United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

Department for Theology and Studies (DTS)
The Department for Theology & Studies encourages and conducts theological studies to assist member churches in exploring the range of theological issues that confront the Lutheran communion as it participates in God’s mission.

Focuses of study and research include:

• theology and the church
• worship and congregational life
• the church and social issues
• the church and people of other faiths

Program Committee for Theology and Studies
Chairperson
Dr. Barbara Rossing
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

DTS Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Director and Study Secretary for Church & Social Issues
Dr. Karen Bloomquist
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Study Secretary for Theology & the Church
Dr. Hans-Peter Grosshans
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria

Theological Associate
Rev. Simone Sinn

Intern: Rev. Rolita Machila

Office for Communication Services (OCS)
The Office for Communication Services enables the voice of the churches to be heard in public. Services include LWI (Lutheran World Information) and the publication of magazines, studies and documentation for other units.

Program Committee for Communication Services
Chairperson
Rev. Kristin Tomasdottir
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland

OCS Staff (Geneva, Switzerland)
Director/Editor in Chief
Ms. Karin Achtelstetter

Editor - German
Mr. Dirk Michael Grötzsch
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony

Editor - English
Ms. Pauline Mumia
The Anglican Church in Kenya

HIV/AIDS Coordinator
Coordinator (vacant)