Category Archives: Europe

Peace starts with us!

Posted on May 23, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Introduction to the WCC IEPC and Peace with the Earth

Greetings from Kingston, Jamaica! We are participating in the World Council of Churches (WCC) International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) along with about 1000 people from around the world and WCC member churches.

The theme of the convocation is “Glory to God and Peace on Earth.” The main objectives for the IEPC are many, but most broadly:

  1. Sharing inspirations and reflections
  2. Network-building, strategy development and other actions.

This is a harvesting event and celebration for the Decade to Overcome Violence. This is not a decision-making body, but rather a group that will crystallize emerging peace issues on the way to the 2013 WCC Assembly in Busan, South Korea.

The four themes of our days together are:

  1. Peace in the Community
  2. Peace with the Earth
  3. Peace in the Marketplace
  4. Peace Among the Peoples.

Today, we will focus on Peace with the Earth.

Part of our life together at the convocation includes bible study. The text for “Peace with the Earth” is Isaiah 11:6-9. Take a look at the text. Share it with your friends. To start your conversation, here are two questions:

What does the ‘knowledge of the Lord’ refer to in this passage?
Is the world painted in this passage possible?

In the daily plenary, the focus was to: Raise awareness on the various threats to creation, present churches’ statements and actions addressing caring for creation, offer theological and spiritual insights from various religious perspectives on peace and creation, and share practical examples on what churches can do on peace with the earth.

As three young people from the LWF, we felt connected to this work, since this same theme, sustainability (with a focus on climate change and food security) was expressed as an emerging issue among the youth at the 2010 Lutheran World Federation (LWF) assembly. Currently, groups of young people from around the LWF communion are reflecting together on bible texts that relate to this theme. Groups are sharing with one another through the worldwide web—a very “green” option!

One of the objectives of LWF Together is to use the outcomes from the bible studies and reflections to work toward sustainability in your own community. Peace with the earth begins with us!

For more information visit www.lwfyouth.org.

In a d’ Lates (Compliments of Peter Powell, Campus Security),

Daniele, Mikka and Sanna

P.S. Come back again soon! During the week, we will take turns reflecting on the remaining three themes.

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Enviroment, Europe, Faith, Justice, Latin America/Carribean, Life, LWF, LWF together - the earth needs you, Middle East, North America, Spirituality, Youth participation

Youth committee of the LWF German National Committee prioritizes sustainabiltiy

Posted on March 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Sustainability is one of the priority issues of LWF Youth globally. The youth committee of the German National Committee of the LWF member churches in this country have made it their priority theme. Please read more in the Moritz’ report.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Church, Ecumenism, Enviroment, Europe, Justice, LWF, Youth, Youth participation

German Kirchentag: Opportunity for Eastern Europeans

Posted on February 21, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The German Kirchentag is a large gathering of Protestants in Germany (mainly from a Lutheran, Reformed or United background). However, they inentionally also open the door for people out of Germany who would like to use this great learning space.

Here is a very affordable conference for young people from Eastern Europe who can first join a pre-conference “Heartbeat” talking about church and youth in Eastern Europe and then attend the Kirchentag itself. Here is more information and please use this form to apply.

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Posted in Church, Ecumenism, Europe, Faith, Youth, Youth participation

Read the bible with Luther – in Wittenberg

Posted on December 6, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Have you ever thought about going to the birthplace of the Lutheran reformation? The Wittenberg Center of the Lutheran World Federation offers this possibility to young theologians. They are invited to attend a seminar titled “Reading the bible with Luther today “. It will be led by Professor Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr, Jena, Germany, and Professor Faustin Mahali, Makumira,Tanzania.

It is meant for people who have either already some parish experience or focused their studies on Luther. They also need the endorsement of a member church of the Lutheran World Federation.

Please find here more information and here the nomination form. Please act quickly!

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Posted in Europe, LWF, Youth participation

Anna-Maria Tetzlaff – Meet the young members of the LWF Executive Committee

Posted on November 30, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Just a few days ago, the newly elected Executive Committee of the LWF concluded its first meeting Geneva. For the first time, Anna-Maria Tetzlaff from Germany, was part of this governing body of the Lutheran World Federation. Here are her first impressions…

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Posted in Europe, Youth, Youth participation

Hungarian Youth: Acting locally, acting globally

Posted on November 2, 2010 by | Leave a comment

by Dénes Horváth-Hegyi

An already five-year-long initiative in Budapest, Hungary, the Thomas Mass (Tamás Mise) borrows for the season 2010-2011 the thematic of the LWF 11th Assembly: „Give Us Today Our Daily Bread”. Rooted from Finland, the youth service uses unconventional liturgical forms to persuade outsiders that Church is able to mediate traditional christian values in a clear, comprehensible and effective way.

The appellation derives from Doubting Thomas, Jesus’ famous disciple who could believe the Resurrection only by touching and seeing. As Jesus finally let him touch his wounds, animators of the Thomas Mass let also participants experience the Gospel not only through the speech and the communion, but through many different interactive tools such as multimedia, creative animations and modernized hymns.

As the „threshold stimulus” of the Youth of today is getting higher and higher in our continuously developing world, Church can not afford ignoring modern forms. Many young people don’t even think of entering God’s house because of the society’s negative stigmatization of the Church which is usually considered as „boring”, „old-fashioned” and „totally not cool”. Also called „the searchers’ service”, Thomas Mass is an amazing initiative to break these stereotypes against the people of Christ. In a country like Hungary, where the Bible’s teaching and the faith were systematically destroyed by atheist ideas during 40 years (in communist times), Christians need to fight against Church-related prejudices after all.

The Lutheran Church in Hungary has fruitful relationships among others with Finnish congregations, and the presence of Thomas Mass shows clearly how ideas from one Church to another infiltrate by brother-like exchanges – without borders. The alternative youth worship is run by the cooperation of six congregations in Budapest, and being brought into effect in several other Lutheran communion in the countryside.

Each time that gathers (every second months) the congregation of the Thomas Mass aims to advocate with his donations a group of indigent people. October’s offering (for the second time) has been sent to children living in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. (The Daily Bread was the first theme of the season – according to the order of words of the Hungarian translation of Our Father, and referring to the Harvest Thanksgiving.)

We, the animators of the Thomas Mass, hope to become with our enthusiasm credible lights of the gospel so that to make „the doubting Youth” experience the salvation of our Christ. We ask the Lutheran youth of the world to pray for our efforts!

Dénes Horváth-Hegyi

is part of the Thomas Mass animation group

based in Budapest, Hungary

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Posted in Church, Europe, Faith, Life, LWF, Spirituality, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth participation

A church of ideas – Make youth participation real!

Posted on September 16, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Are you interested in your church? Do you care how well the church is participating in God’s mission?

One of the aspects you will have to care about is how well young people can participate in the church – including its decision-making. A new publication of the LWF looks into the details, how churches include young people better. The back cover says:

Young people bring new ideas to the church. But sometimes they are not heard. Frequently, they don’t even sit at the table where the decisions are made.

This booklet offers a stock take of how your congregation, diocese or national church includes young people in decision making. It contains case studies from five continents, theological reflection and practical tips how the participation of young people can be improved.

You can download the pdf-version of a Church of Ideas in English, French, Spanish or German.

Also, you can order printed copies of the booklet in these languages here. Individual copies are free of charge, for bulk orders we charge postage.

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Posted in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Church, Ecumenism, Europe, Faith, Justice, Life, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth participation

A few videos over breakfast…

Posted on July 14, 2010 by | Leave a comment


Alice Dungdung from India enjoyed the breakfast with bread, salad and water. Is this very different to her home country?


We met Jana Benuchova from Slovak Republic at Dinner. She is happy to be at the preassembly..

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Europe, Life, LWF, Pre-Assembly

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Vuvuzelas in Dresden

Posted on July 12, 2010 by | Leave a comment

by Moses Aboka, Kenya, youth media team

Can you imagine that the vuvuzelas have crossed the borders from South Africa to Germany?  The youth from more than 40 countries attending the Pre-Assembly took time out from their busy agendas and worship to watch the World Cup final.

The sound of the vuvuzela filled the tents outside the conference hall.  The youths from Southern and Central American added more spice to the celebration by cheering with a lot of passion.  When Germany won against Uruguay Jared Magero from Kenya was so excited.  As th country celebrated he said, “It’s good to be here and hear the sounds of fireworks, this is not so common in Kenya, and I now feel so happy.”

Despite Sergio Eloy Rios Carillo from Nicaragua speaking Spanish, he was really yearning for the Netherlands to win. “The Netherlands are so humble, I really want God to pay them for this” he commented.  Perhaps this was evident when Danielle a delegate from the Netherlands decided to hand out flags and painted some delegates hair with her national colors. Despite the orange flag flying there were still quite a number of youth who were rooting for Spain.

Pedro Munaretto from Argentina was so happy that Spain won the World Cup. Most of the players from his country play in Spain, and since they were bundled out in the qualifications, this was the only thing to bring happiness to him. Lucky enough, Spain were crowned 2010 World Cup Champion, after a lone goal from Iniesta in the 116th minute.

Although football funs would be unhappy that the Cup has come to an end so soon, it was wonderful to see so many youths from different cultures understanding one another through the language of football.

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Posted in Africa, Church, Europe, Latin America/Carribean, Life, LWF, Pre-Assembly

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Dresden Lutherans welcome youth to the city of Rebirth

Posted on July 12, 2010 by | 1 Comment

by Anthony Tucker, Sierra Leone – USA, youth media team

The eyes of the Lutheran communion focus on Germany as it hosts the LWF Youth Pre-assembly this week in the city of Dresden in Eastern part of Germany.  Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony, which is one of the sixteen provinces of Germany. It has a city area of 320km sq. with a population of 501,000.

Walking around the city is like travelling through the history of Germany – destruction and rebirth.   It is a triad of art, history and nature, with the river Elbe running through it.

Sunday worship was held at Dreikonigskirche, one of the most prominent churches in Dresden for its role in the politics of the city.  After the church was destroyed in 1945, the people of Dresden, especialy the youth, rebuilt it brick by brick with their bare hands. In 1989,the peaceful demonstration by hundred thousand of citizen in nearby Leipzig resulted in the fall of the GDR (communist Germany) and thus subsequently the birth of Democracy, of which the  Lutheran church played a crucial role.  The rooms of the Dreikonigskirche itself was the first place the parliament met in East Germany.  The church lives on as a symbol of peace and reconcilliation.

During communist it was difficult to be a Christian, and church membership fell from 4 million to 800,000, according to Dr. Christoph Munchow from the Council of the Evanglical Lutheran Church of Saxony who welcomed youth participants.  That struggle to promote a Christian identity in Dresden (and East Germany) continues today in an society with such strong athiest and secular traditions.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony has 20 church districts (including Dresden). The church continue to play an active role in the society. The pastors and other church workers teach religious education in state controlled schools. The cultivation of church music, pastoral care  and counselling in hospitals, prisons, for the police and the army are among the many areas the church enhance its social responsibility to society.

The Local Youths in Dresden support the church in its outreach ministry to the community. But they’re also faced with critical issues and challenges. According to Jakob Lehmann,a member of the Lutheran Youth Organisation of Dresden,the young people find it extremely difficulty to better relate with the older generation. He suggested that the adults should try to listen to the voices of the youths. Talking about his community, Jakob also emphasised the fact that most youth in higher institution live in fear of unemployment  upon graduation. According to him, the youth should try to create a platform upon which they can suppot each other and together confront the issues affecting them.

Though worship services are still of major importance,there are new projects like infants,children and youths group that have been implemented. Today, the Lutheran church of saxony is one of the most important social group among others in a pluralistics and competitive society.

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Posted in Church, Europe, Faith, Justice, Life, LWF, Pre-Assembly, Youth, Youth participation