Lutheran World Federation

Last updated

Lutheran World Federation
LWF logo.svg
Type Communion
Classification Protestant
Orientation Lutheran
Scripture Bible
President Henrik Stubkjær
General Secretary Anne Burghardt
Headquarters Ecumenical Centre
(Geneva, Switzerland)
Origin1947
Members77 million
Official website www.lutheranworld.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF; German : Lutherischer Weltbund) is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran denominations headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the many differing Lutheran churches. Since 1984, the member churches are in pulpit and altar fellowship, with common doctrine as the basis of membership and mission activity.

Contents

The LWF now has 149 member church bodies in 99 countries representing over 77 million Lutherans; [1] as of 2022, it is the sixth-largest Christian communion (see list of denominations by membership). The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.

The Department for World Service is the LWF's humanitarian and development arm. It has programmes in 24 countries and is the UNHCR ninth largest implementing partner. The LWF is a member of ACT Alliance.

On 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, the Lutheran World Federation signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Roman Catholic Church. The statement is an attempt to narrow the theological divide between the two faiths. The declaration also states that the mutual condemnations between 16th-century Catholic church and Lutheranism no longer apply. A similar event took place in Lund Cathedral at the 499th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation when Pope Francis visited Scania, Sweden's southernmost province that originally was Danish. [2] [3]

119 of the 145 member churches (80%) ordain women as ministers. [4]

History

The LWF was founded at Lund, Sweden, in 1947. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it replaced the more informal Lutheran World Convention, which had been founded in 1924. The goal was to coordinate international activities of the many Lutheran churches, to provide a forum for discussions on theological and organizational issues, and to assist in philanthropy, missionary activity, and exchange of students and professors. A key leader was Executive Secretary Sylvester C. Michelfelder (1889–1951), representing the American Lutheran Church. He had been a leader in organizing $45 million in American help for the rebuilding of Protestant churches in Germany after 1945. By the time of his death in 1951, the federation represented 52 churches in 25 countries. [5]

Largest churches

The 20 largest member churches are (with number of members in millions; 2021 statistics):

  1. Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (10.4) [6]
  2. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (7.9) [7]
  3. Church of Sweden (5.9) [8]
  4. Batak Christian Protestant Church (4.5) [9]
  5. Church of Denmark (4.3) [10]
  6. Malagasy Lutheran Church (4.0) [11]
  7. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (3.8) [12]
  8. Church of Norway (3.7) [13]
  9. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (3.6) [14]
  10. Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (3.0) [15]
  11. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, Germany (2.6) [16]
  12. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany (2.3) [16]
  13. The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (2.2) [17]
  14. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (2.1) [16]
  15. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg (2.0) [16]
  16. Protestant Church in the Netherlands (1.7) [18]
  17. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (0.9) [19]
  18. Evangelical Church in Central Germany (0.7) [16]
  19. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony (0.7) [16]
  20. Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (0.6) [20]
  21. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (0.6) [21]

Federation officials

President

The President is the federation's chief official representative and spokesperson. The president presides at meetings of the Assembly, Council and Meeting of Officers, and oversees the life and work of the federation in consultation with the General Secretary. [22]

No.PortraitNameTermChurchNationality
1 Anders Nygren.jpg Anders Nygren
(1890–1978)
1947–1952 Church of Sweden Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
2 Bundesarchiv Bild 194-0703-04, Kassel, 2. CVJM-Europa-Konferenz.jpg Hanns Lilje
(1899–1977)
1952–1957 Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
3 Franklin Clark Fry
(1900–1968)
1957–1963Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4 Fredrik A. Schiotz
(1901–1989)
1963–1970 American Lutheran Church Flag of the United States.svg  United States
5 Voorzitter Juva, Bestanddeelnr 928-1087.jpg Mikko Juva
(1918–2004)
1970–1977 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
6 Josiah Kibira
(1925–1988)
1977–1984 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
7 Zoltán Káldy  [ de ]
(1919–1987)
1984–1987 Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
8 Johannes Hanselmann  [ de ]
(1927–1999)
1987–1990 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
9 Gottfried Brakemeier  [ pt ]
(born 1937)
1990–1997 Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
10 Christian Krause  [ de ]
(born 1940)
1997–2003 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
11 Mark hanson.jpg Mark Hanson
(born 1946)
2003–2010 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Flag of the United States.svg  United States
12 Munib Younan 2015.jpg Munib Younan
(born 1950)
2010–2017 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
13 Musa Filibus
(born 1960)
2017–2023 The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
14 Henrik Stubkjaer.jpg Henrik Stubkjær

(born 1961)

2023–present Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark

General Secretary

The Lutheran World Federation Council elects the General Secretary for a seven-year term. The person appointed is eligible for re-election. The General Secretary conducts the business of the federation assisted by the Communion Office Leadership Team, comprising department and unit heads appointed by the council, and carries out the decisions of the Assembly and Council. [23] On 19 June 2021, the LWF Council elected Estonian theologian Anne Burghardt as the next General Secretary. She is the first woman to serve in this role and assumed office on 1 November of that year. [24]

No.NameTermNationality
1Sylvester Michelfelder
(1889–1951)
1947–1951Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2 Carl Lund-Quist  [ de ]
(1908–1965)
1951–1960Flag of the United States.svg  United States
3 Kurt Schmidt-Clausen  [ de ]
(1920–1993)
1960–1965Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
4 André Appel  [ fr ]
(1921–2007)
1965–1974Flag of France.svg  France
5Carl Henning Mau Jr.
(1922–1995)
1974–1985Flag of the United States.svg  United States
6 Gunnar Stålsett
(born 1935)
1985–1994Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
7 Ishmael Noko
(born 1943)
1994–2010Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
8 Martin Junge  [ de ]
(born 1961)
2010–2021Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
9 Anne Burghardt
(born 1975)
2021-Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia

Members

This map shows the global distribution of Lutheranism based on The LWF 2019 membership data. [25] [lower-alpha 1]

Lutheran World Federation Membership Figures.svg
Lutheranism by country in 2019, Lutheran World Federation member churches

Sorted by country in alphabetical order

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola
Evangelical Church of the River Plate (includes Paraguay and Uruguay)
United Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church of Australia (includes New Zealand) – associate member church (also an associate member of the International Lutheran Council )
Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria
Bangladesh Lutheran Church
Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Lutheran Church of Belgium: Arlon and Christian Mission
Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
German-Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana
Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
Lutheran Church in Chile
The Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church
Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia
St Matthew's Lutheran Congregation
St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
Lutheran Costarican Church
Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia
Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark (includes Church of Greenland, but not the Church of the Faroe Islands)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador
Salvadoran Lutheran Church
Evangelical Church of Eritrea
Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum )
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
United Protestant Church of France
Malagasy Protestant Church in France
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Church of Lippe, Lutheran Classis
Evangelical Church in Central Germany
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg
Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
Evangelical Lutheran Congregation "La Epifania"
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary
Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
India Evangelical Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
South Andhra Lutheran Church
The Arcot Lutheran Church
The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
Batak Christian Community Church
Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias
Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
Christian Protestant Angkola Church
Indonesian Christian Luther Church (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum )
Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church
Protestant Christian Batak Church
Protestant Christian Church
Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai
Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
Indonesian Christian Church
United Protestant Church
The Lutheran Church in Ireland
Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy
Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church
Japan Lutheran Church – associate member church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council and a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum )
Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church in Korea (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Lutheran Church in Liberia
Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
Malagasy Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi
Basel Christian Church of Malaysia
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore
The Protestant Church in Sabah
German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico
Mexican Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar
Lutheran Church of Myanmar
Myanmar Lutheran Church (also an associate member of the International Lutheran Council )
The Mara Evangelical Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN – GELC)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN)
Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope
Lutheran Church in Nigeria
The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
Church of Norway
Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
Gutnius Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Lutheran Church in the Philippines (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession in Poland
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Lutheran Church of Rwanda
Lutheran Church of Senegal
Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone
Lutheran Church in Singapore
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovak Republic
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T)  [ de ]
Moravian Church in South Africa
Lanka Lutheran Church (also a full member of the International Lutheran Council )
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname
Church of Sweden
Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Lutheran Church of Taiwan
Taiwan Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (also a member of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum )
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Lutheran Church in Great Britain
The Lutheran Council of Great Britain
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Church of the River Plate
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uruguay
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela
Lutheran Church of Venezuela
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe

Views on same-sex unions

Some member denominations have recognized same-sex unions through marriage, a blessing rite, or special prayers. These include the Church of Denmark, Church of Iceland, Church of Norway, Church of Sweden, Protestant Church A.B. in Austria, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chile, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Geneva, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy, a majority of the churches within the Protestant Church in Germany, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, and the United Protestant Church of France. [26]

On the other side, several churches, including the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Malagasy Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania, which recognize marriage as solely the union between a man and a woman, have broken ties with many of the churches supporting same-sex unions. [27]

The Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil supports civil same-sex marriage, but does not allow its ministers to celebrate same-sex unions, neither does it ordain ministers who are living in same-sex unions. [28]

See also

Notes

  1. This map undercounts the number of Lutherans in several countries, notably the United States. The LWF does not include the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and several other Lutheran bodies which together have over 2.5 million members.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is a worldwide association of confessional Lutheran denominations. Member bodies of the ILC hold "an unconditional commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord as the true and faithful exposition of the Word of God." The member church bodies are not required to be in church-fellowship with one another, though many of them are.

The Japan Lutheran Church or NRK is a confessional Lutheran denomination in Japan. It currently has approximately 766 baptized members in 35 congregations nationwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania</span>

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is the federation of Lutheran churches in Tanzania and one of the largest Lutheran denominations in the world, with more than 6 million members, or 13% of the Tanzanian population. It is the second largest Lutheran church in the world and the largest Lutheran church in East Africa.

Confessional Lutheranism is a name used by Lutherans to designate those who believe in the doctrines taught in the Book of Concord of 1580 in their entirety. Confessional Lutherans maintain that faithfulness to the Book of Concord, which is a summary of the teachings found in Scripture, requires attention to how that faith is actually being preached, taught, and put into practice. Confessional Lutherans believe that this is a vital part of their identity as Lutherans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munib Younan</span>

Munib Younan is a Palestinian Bishop Emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church</span> German Lutheran denomination

The Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran church body of Germany. It is a member of the European Lutheran Conference and of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). The SELK has about 33,000 members in 174 congregations. The seat of SELK is in Hanover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Catholic</span> Variant of Lutheran

The term Evangelical Catholic is used in Lutheranism, alongside the terms Augsburg Catholic or Augustana Catholic, with those calling themselves Evangelical Catholic Lutherans or Lutherans of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship stressing the catholicity of historic Lutheranism in liturgy, beliefs, practices, and doctrines. Evangelical Catholics teach that Lutheranism at its core "is deeply and fundamentally catholic". The majority of Evangelical Catholic Lutheran clergy and parishes are members of mainstream Lutheran denominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batak Christian Protestant Church</span> Church of Protestant Christian denomination

The Huria Kristen Batak Protestan is an Evangelical Lutheran church among the Batak people, generally the Toba Batak in Indonesia. It uses the Ecumenical style of worship due to the Dutch East Indies or Dutch colonialism, and Rhenish Missionary Society heritage at the time it was founded. With a membership of 4,133,000, it is one of the largest Protestant churches in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Its present leader is Ephorus (bishop) Robinson Butarbutar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus</span> Lutheran denomination in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is a Lutheran denomination in Ethiopia. It is the largest member church of the Lutheran World Federation. It is a Lutheran denomination with some Pentecostal influence and one Presbyterian-leaning synod, with a large Pietistic following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutheranism by region</span> Aspect of religion

Lutheranism is present on all inhabited continents with an estimated 80 million adherents, out of which 74.2 million are affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation. A major movement that first began the Reformation, it constitutes one of the largest Protestant branches claiming around 80 million out of 920 million Protestants. The Lutheran World Federation brings together the vast majority of Lutherans. Apart from it, there are also other organisations such as the International Lutheran Council and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, as well as multiple independent Lutheran denominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutheran Church in Malaysia</span> One of four Lutheran bodies in Malaysia

The Lutheran Church in Malaysia or LCM is one of four Lutheran bodies in Malaysia. It currently has 52 congregations nationwide with a total of 6,736 baptised members and is the largest entirely Lutheran body in the country. Until 2012, the body was known as the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe is a fellowship of over 100 Protestant churches which have signed the Leuenberg Agreement. Together they strive for realizing church communion, especially by cooperation in witness and service to the world. Prior to 2003 the CPCE was known as the "Leuenberg Church Fellowship".

Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia</span>

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia or ELCM is one of the four Lutheran bodies in Malaysia. It currently has 21 congregations nationwide with a total of 3,650 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Church of the River Plate</span>

The Evangelical Church of the River Plate is a United, Protestant denomination with congregations in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is named after the Río de la Plata Basin, where the majority of its congregations are located. The IERP was affiliated with the Evangelical Church in Germany from 1934–1965, when it became independent. The church ordains women as ministers and supported civil unions and same-sex marriage. It has approximately 27,500 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutheran Church in Korea</span>

The Lutheran Church in Korea or LCK is a confessional Lutheran denomination in the Republic of Korea and the only Lutheran denomination in South Korea. Unusual for a confessional Lutheran church, the LCK is not just a member of the confessional International Lutheran Council but also the mainline Lutheran World Federation.

Lutheranism was first introduced to Mexico in the 1850s, when German-American Lutherans began serving German immigrants in Mexico, though mission work among the non-German population in Mexico did not begin until the 1940s. Today there are five Lutheran church bodies in Mexico—the Mexican Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Synod of Mexico, the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico (unaffiliated), and the Lutheran Apostolic Alliance of Mexico (unaffiliated)—and several independent congregations.

The Global Confessional & Missional Lutheran Forum is a global gathering of national and regional Lutheran churches. The forum was founded in Dallas, Texas by invitation of the North American Lutheran Church in 2015 to bring together Confessional Lutheran bodies who wish to emphasize missional discipleship as the focal point of ministry in the world. The gathering can be seen as an alternative to the more liberal Lutheran World Federation and to the more conservative International Lutheran Council and Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.

References

  1. "About the LWF". The Lutheran World Federation. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  2. "The Lutheran World Federation". The Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. "Pope Francis to visit Sweden for Reformation commemoration". Catholicherald.co.uk. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  4. "More than 80 percent of LWF churches ordain women". The Lutheran World Federation. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. Schjørring, Kumari & Hjelm 1997; Wentz 1965.
  6. "Ethiopia | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. "Tanzania | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. "Sweden | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  9. "Indonesia | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  10. "Denmark | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  11. "Madagascar | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  12. "Finland | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  13. "Norway | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. "United States| The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  15. "India | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Germany | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  17. "Nigeria | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  18. "Netherlands | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  19. "Namibia - The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  20. "Brazil| The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  21. "South Africa | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  22. "President". Archived from the original on 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  23. "Office of the General Secretary". Archived from the original on 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  24. "LWF elects Estonian Anne Burghardt as new General Secretary". The Lutheran World Federation. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  25. "The Lutheran World Federation 2019 Membership Figures" (PDF). Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  26. "Gay Marriage Around the World". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  27. "Ethiopian Church Severs Ties With Lutherans Over Homosexuality". Christian Post. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  28. "Posicionamento sobre homoafetividade". Portal Luteranos. Retrieved 17 September 2021.

Bibliography

Wentz, Abdel Ross (1965). "The Lutheran World Federation". In Bodensieck, Julius (ed.). The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church. Vol. 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Augsburg Publishing House. pp. 1422–1432.