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The Council of Lutheran Churches is a representative and enabling body for Lutheran churches in the UK. We are looking for a full time General Secretary to lead and manage our people and financial resources to support our member churches and represent them in the wider ecumenical world in the UK.

We want someone who:

• Has a good understanding of Lutheran theology and tradition– you must be an active Christian and although not necessary, it would be an advantage if you are ordained.
• Has a leadership style that is relationship orientated and supportive as you will be working with churches and other organisations from different cultures.
• Is a networker, bridge builder and enabler, able to strike up positive relationships quickly.
• Is an experienced public speaker, with good written communications.
• Is keen to learn and open-minded, ideally with experience of living and working in other cultures and with churches of different denominations.
• Is financially literate, able to understand budget and accounts, assess grant applications from the Churches, understand and act on the Investment Managers’ reports and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on actions they should take.
• If you have experience of working in the UK charity sector that would be a bonus.

​We are based in London (Waterloo) and applicants must live within commuting distance of our office.

To apply, please email your CV to: david.rogers@lutheran.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 15^th April 2024

No agencies please.

Please find the full job description for the General Secretary position available for download here: General Secretary Job Description.

After three fruitful years at the Council of Lutheran Churches (CLC), we announce the departure of our General Secretary Dr Anna Krauß. From September, she will take up the post of Director of the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) Centre in Wittenberg.

Dr Anna Krauß says, “I have loved my time at CLC and the Lutheran community in the UK will always hold a special place in my heart. I leave CLC after a period of transition has come to its end and it is time to move on for me. I look forward to the new tasks in Wittenberg.”

The Chair of the CLC, Bishop Tor B. Jørgensen, shared that having Dr Anna Krauß as the General Secretary for three years has been a pleasure. “She has done an important job in securing the future work of the council, and in that short time, she has become well-recognised ecumenically in the UK and internationally, especially within the Lutheran community. Also, taking on the roles of Churches Together in England’s President for the 4th Presidency Group and a Member of the LWF Council as the representative of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. We greet her in the new role at the LWF centre in Wittenberg and look forward to continuing our collaboration in this new setting.”

The LWF centre in Wittenberg organises theological training and conferences for the LWF’s 150 member churches, welcomes visitors from across the world and oversees some ecumenical projects.

We’re excited to share that the Council of Lutheran Churches is now on Instagram. Embracing the ever-evolving digital landscape, we look forward to connecting with our vibrant community through not only Facebook but also exploring other avenues to stay connected.

Initially, our Instagram account will be a hub for sharing the meaningful Lenten activities in our member churches. Start connecting with us now by following our account @counciloflutheranchurches and become a part of our growing online community.

The Lutheran Church in Great Britain (LCiGB) consecrated and installed into ministry the next Bishop, Rt Rev Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman on January 20 in Nottingham. 40-year-old Bishop Paulina is originally from Southern Poland, ordained as a pastor in the LCiGB in 2014, and she is also a professional singer. 

Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman has studied Theology & Ethics, and also Opera with Acting in Warsaw, before moving to England, she served in Poland as an Assistant to the Military Bishop in the structures of the Ministry of National Defence and worked as a Projects’ Coordinator for the Polish Ecumenical Council. At that time the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran Church) in Poland didn’t ordain women, “Unfortunately, for a vocal woman who fights for her and her colleagues’ rights for women’s ordination, there wasn’t much space for me,” explained Paulina on her relocating to the UK.

The outgoing Bishop, Rt Rev Tor B. Jørgensen said, “Paulina is illustrating the very history of our church. She is coming from an East-European Lutheran minority tradition. She has shown individual courage and integrity by following her call to be an ordained minister while that still was not possible in her own church. She has instead been a blessing for LCiGB since her ordination nine years ago.”

Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman continues to serve English congregations in Nottingham and Corby, and additionally a Polish congregation in London. Jeffrey Trinklein, the Chair of the LCiGB, said “Her international background is a great fit for our Church, since we come from so many places. She is also well known to the Church of England, and has deep connections with the University of Nottingham chaplaincy program.”

The consecration service was officiated by Bishop Tor B Jørgensen, with Rt Rev Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga (Bishop Emerita, LCiGB) and Rt Rev Paul Ferguson (Bishop of Whitby, Church of England). The list of ecumenical and international guests included Rt Rev Mike Royal (General Secretary of Churches Together in England), Rt Rev Jerzy Samiec (Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland), Rt Rev’d Bishop Patrick McKinney (Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Nottingham), Rt Rev Dr Andrew Emerton (Bishop of Sherwood, Church of England), Rev Dr Ireneusz Lukas (European Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation), and many others.

Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman shared her reflections on the upcoming ministry, expressing, “I would like to listen to the needs of the people in times of economic difficulties and engage with ecumenical and interfaith partners in our joint work.” She added, “I believe we meet God in our biggest troubles and tribulations, that is why we are able to work on love and peace with all and everywhere, and this is what the world needs most now.”

The consecration was hosted in Nottingham, where Rt Rev Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman was initially appointed as a pastor. The LCiGB expresses gratitude to the Church of England, particularly St Mary’s in the Lace Market, for hosting this significant event. St Mary’s Church Wardens and congregation shared their delight, stating, “This is a unique and important event for both Churches and we look forward to continuing to build on our ecumenical relationship in our diverse city.”

The consecration service was livestreamed on the Council of Lutheran Churches (CLC) Facebook: https://fb.watch/pYJqEA5FxZ, and the CLC also gifted the orders of service for this occasion. General Secretary Dr Anna Krauss said, “We are delighted to welcome Bishop Paulina. The Lutheran Church in Great Britian has added another ‘first’ – after consecrating the first woman bishop (Bishop Jāna) in the UK, the church is now led by the first ever Polish woman to be consecrated bishop. It was a wonderful ecumenical occasion and I look forward to the collaboration with Bishop Paulina and LCiGB. May God bless her episcopal ministry.”

The LCiGB is a member of the Lutheran World Federation. It is also a signatory of the Porvoo Agreement, which grants full communion between 15 Anglican and Lutheran churches in Europe. Through the CLC, the LCiGB is part of Churches Together in England and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Watch the Consecration Service on Youtube: https://youtu.be/TyU9w0Dly9M?si=RJQ0jGJFYeM1gnMq

Consecration photos by Alex Wilkinson: https://lutheranchurch.co.uk/bishop-paulinas-consecration-in-pictures/

Read more https://mailchi.mp/c3b86a6dce0c/clc-news-9425248

Rev Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman is to be consecrated as the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain (LCiGB). The ceremony will take place on January 20, 2024, at 2 pm at St Mary’s in the Lace Market, Nottingham City Centre.

The service will be presided by the current Bishop, Rt Rev Tor B Jørgensen. To attend the consecration service, the LCiGB kindly asks to register at https://forms.churchdesk.com/f/yF-w45IW50 and bring a proof of identity along, as the entrance will be facilitated according to the guest list.

The service will be live-streamed on the Council of Lutheran Churches’ Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/counciloflutheranchurches.

Read more https://mailchi.mp/c88fc39f55e3/clc-news-9421620

This Advent, CLC General Secretary Anna Krauss looks at three hymns that are specifically written for the season of Advent (not Christmas!). What are the big Advent themes they pick up and what is the history of each hymn? The chosen hymns are ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’, ‘Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry’, and ‘Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending’. Watch the video series on Facebook https://bit.ly/clc-advent.