Geneva/Switzerland
| 3/07/2018.
The geographical reach of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) extends to and includes Cuba
The LWF Council has voted to admit three new member churches into the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). These churches are: the Lutheran Church of Christ in India, the United Evangelical Church in Cuba – Lutheran Synod – and the Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala. This means that the total number of member churches united in the LWF is 148 member churches from 99 countries.
“We invite you to join the LWF’s journey of mutuality and solidarity. You, who are centred in Christ and hold firmly to the liberating gift of God’s grace, are invited to share your talents in our common work, striving for justice, peace and reconciliation in our world,” said the LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, when the Council approved the admission of the new member churches.
“We invite you to join the LWF’s journey of mutuality and solidarity,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin Junge.
The Lutheran Church of Christ in India is made up of 54 congregations and mission centres in six states. The congregations are served by 18 ordained pastors and 18 evangelists. The church has about 2,700 members.
The accession of the United Evangelical Church in Cuba – Lutheran Synod – marks the LWF’s presence in a new country. The church has 1,500 congregation members, who gather in 11 congregations in seven provinces; it is served by seven ordained pastors, a bishop and a deputy bishop, as well as six ordained deacons and 15 preachers.
The Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala unites 3,000 congregation members. It consists of 17 congregations in five Guatemalan cities. The church has eight ordained pastors, two catechist pastors, an evangelist, a preacher, a minister of Holy Communion, as well as 16 health promotion workers and several volunteers.
Churches that apply for communion in the LWF agree to the doctrinal basis of the LWF; they must be independent legal entities recognized as such in their own countries, and must consist of more than one congregation.
Source: Lutheran World Federation news