How We Work
Accompaniment: a lens and methodology for global mission
In global mission, many Lutheran church bodies that belong to the Lutheran World Federation — including the ELCA — seek to follow the
accompaniment model.
Accompaniment is a response to the
changing context of global mission. For many years, North American and European church bodies established, funded, and directed mission around the world. Today, the churches they helped found are independent and self-governing. As a result, global mission is an endeavor shared by mutual participants in the body of Christ.
Bishop M. Biyela of the Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa leads a worship service in a house church near Elukwatini, Republic of South Africa.
The ELCA’s usage of the concept of accompaniment began in conversation with companion churches in Latin America about a new way of engaging in mission. To be accountable and faithful in God’s mission, we reflect on our mission practices and continue to define our engagement in global mission. Accompaniment is a living concept that continues to be expressed in various ways, in different contexts, as we North American Lutherans learn from our history of mission practice and our current engagement with companion church bodies.
Take the next step:
Changing Context of
Global Mission