8th LWF International Seminar for Lay Persons in Church Leadership

Invitation to the 8th LWF International Seminar for Lay Persons in Church Leadership in Geneva and Wittenberg, 25th May to 2nd June 2025
it is my honour and great pleasure to invite you to nominate lay leaders of your church for the 8 th LWF International Seminar for Lay Persons in Church Leadership. “The Role of Lay Leadership in the Church – A biblical, theological and spiritual reflection” 25th May to 2nd June 2025 in Geneva and Wittenberg The seminar is organised in close cooperation by the LWF Communion Office in Geneva and the LWF Center in Wittenberg. It will be held in person. The aim of this seminar is to reflect on the role of lay leaders within the church both theologically and spiritually, to train and encourage the lay leaders for their leadership role within the wider church and to offer a place of shared lives and worship as a living expression of the global Lutheran communion. Many of the participating lay leaders leave the seminars strengthened and inspired and carry the rich experiences back to their ministry in their home churches. Up to 22 participants from the 7 regions within the LWF will be invited. This will ensure a fruitful, cross-cultural dialogue that will strengthen the communion of the LWF.
Please be aware that we may not be able to accept all nominations due to limited finances and capacities. We therefore kindly ask you to send no more than two nominations of lay leaders from your church.
Despite our shared commitment to involve at least 40% women, 40% men and 20% youth (between 18 and 30 years of age) in LWF events and LWF governance, women and young people are still regularly underrepresented in the nominations. We therefore strongly encourage you to nominate female and young lay leaders in your church.
The participants should be able to share their newly gained knowledge and competences with other church leaders at home. The seminar will be held in English and participants should have very good English skills in order to be able to follow the program.
The seminar will start on 25th May in Geneva. Here, participants will engage in theological reflection on church leadership and growing spiritual communion. The participants will also learn about the organisation and work of the Lutheran World Federation at its Headquarters.
On 29th May, the group will travel together to Wittenberg. Here, participants will reflect on the Lutheran understanding of church leadership and their vocation as non-ordained church leaders as well as deepen their spiritual life while connecting with the historical roots of the Lutheran faith and tradition. On 2nd June, the participants will travel home from Wittenberg.
Please, be aware that participants will need a document for international travel (passport) which must be valid at least until 1 st January 2026.
The participation fee amounts to 1,000 Euros (including accommodation, food, day trips, entrance fees, materials, etc). The fee and travel expenses are to be covered by the participants and/or their sending churches.
Please return the completed nomination form to our Administrative Assistant, Mr Cornelius Arndt (by e-mail to: arndt@dnk-lwb.de), by 9 th February 2025.
With kind greetings from my colleagues Rev. Katariina Kiilunen, Program Executive for Leadership Development at LWF Communion Office, and Rev. Dr. Sámuel Nánási, Director of Studies at LWF Center Wittenberg,
Yours in Christ Dr. Anna Krauss, Executive Director of the LWF Center Wittenberg
Læs mere her.