02.01.2017. Geneva. In his 2017 New Year’s address, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin Junge reminds the 145 churches in the global communion to remain centred on the message of salvation by grace through faith alone and to bear witness to God’s gift of compassion in a world that struggles with conflict and estrangement – so that the churches may become witnesses of God’s transforming power. He calls on the LWF member churches to uphold three principles for marking the Reformation: the Reformation is a global citizen, ecumenical responsibility, and the Reformation continues. “As we commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation, we should take the opportunity to perceive God’s call to mission in today’s world. I pray that God’s Spirit is with each of the LWF member churches in this special year with its particular call to bear witness,” Junge adds. The LWF will hold its 12th Assembly from 11 to 16 May in Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting of the highest governing body will coincide with the start of the LWF’s official commemoration of Martin Luther’s movement to reform the church 500 years ago. Source and photo: The Lutheran World Federation https://www.lutheranworld.org
