Join us for a Queer Carol Service on Thursday, 12th December at 6pm at St Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE. This special service will include a sermon by Pastor Maris Sants, music by the baroque collective Solomon’s Knot, and will be led by Pastor Meelis Süld and Pastor Sarah Farrow. Members of LGBTQ+ Christian groups and allies will come together for an evening of celebration, reflection, and community. Organised by St Anne’s Lutheran Church and the CLC Lutheran Inclusive Group, this event warmly welcomes everyone.

The Council of Lutheran Churches (CLC) notes with sadness and concern the historic, heinous decades-long abuse that led to the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby on Tuesday, as he took personal and institutional responsibility for failures in handling the case. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of abuse. It is unimaginable that such evil could happen in a church-related setting, where we are called to care for each other and to protect the marginalised and vulnerable in particular. The CLC is committed to safeguarding and building a safe space for all. This work is one where churches can collaborate, and the issue was prioritised at Churches Together in England’s Enabling Group in March 2024. We appreciate the comprehensive safeguarding trainings organised by the Church of England, which have been made available to CLC member churches. However, much more could be done to ensure that theory is put into practice in all churches, fostering openness and transparency. The CLC, with its nine member churches, is a close partner of the Church of England, and we hold in our prayers all those affected by the resignation, including Archbishop Welby’s family. We ask for wisdom in selecting the new Primate of All England and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. We also acknowledge Archbishop Welby’s ecumenical openness, including his prioritisation of the Porvoo Agreement, his courage in speaking up for migrant communities—especially in opposing the Rwanda scheme—and his efforts to make the Church of England a more inclusive church.

On October 31, Lutherans around the world commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation. To mark this occasion, the Council of Lutheran Churches in Great Britain is organising a Reformation Day service with Eucharist on the 31^st of October at 6pm. We invite all CLC Member Churches to join us in prayer and reflection on the significance of the Reformation in today’s world. The service will take place in London, at St George's Lutheran Church, 55 Alie Street, London, E1 8EB. Light refreshments will be available.

The CLC’s safeguarding advisor Simon Bass from Church Safeguarding Consultancy will offer one session of in-depth safeguarding training this autumn. The training is for church leaders and those working with children, young people and adults and we can focus on the specific situation of the Lutheran churches. The date is: Thursday, 7th November, 6pm on Zoom. The session will cover the following content: understanding abuse and its signs and symptoms, how to respond well to concerns and disclosures of abuse, best practice when working with children and adults at risk of harm. There will be discussions in the plenary and work in break out groups. The link to register your attendance on Eventbrite is below: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2024-advanced-safeguarding-training-online-tickets-1028809315357?aff=oddtdtcreator