Highlights from the LWF Assembly in Krakow: New Leadership, British Lutheran Delegation, and Exclusive Interviews

More than a thousand participants from around the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) member churches and partner organisations gathered in Krakow, Poland, 13-19 September to celebrate the gift of unity in diversity, and serve the neighbour under the theme ‘One Body, One Spirit, One Hope’. The Assembly elected LWF’s new council and president, Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, a theologian, who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work. The Lutheran Church in Great Britain nominated the Council of Lutheran Churches’ General Secretary Dr Anna Krauß to the LWF Council, who was elected and chosen as the Chair of LWF Communications Committee. 

After the first meeting of the LWF Council, which took place on September 20th, Anna Krauß expressed that her initial expectation was to have a more low-key role, perhaps within the committee for ecumenism or a similar area. Thus, her nomination and subsequent election as the Chair of the Communications Committee came as a great surprise. Furthermore, this role places her directly within the Executive Committee, marking a significant milestone for the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. 

British Lutherans had a delegation of six members, including Bishop Tor B Jørgensen, who served as the official representative of the LCiGB. Dr. Anna Krauß represented LCiGB as a council candidate, while Rev Meelis Süld handled church communication, particularly on CLC’s social media. Rev Rebecca Daniel, the CLC Student Chaplain, took on a role as one of the stewards at the Assembly. In addition, both Rev Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman (who has now been elected as the next Bishop) and Rev Jo Jan Vandenheede participated with the endorsement of the LCiGB. 

The CLC crafted daily video recaps of the Assembly days, also featuring interviews with LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Anne Burghardt and former LWF Vice-President for Central-Western Europe, Provost Astrid Kleist. An especially noteworthy moment was when the newly appointed LWF President, Bishop Henrik Stubkjær granted his first interview exclusively for CLC Facebook Live. You can view these interviews by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/100064910615062/992646181788373.