On June 14, 2022, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation accepted GELCU as an individual member into the ranks of the association. GELCU became the 149th church – a member of the Federation, and Ukraine – the 99th represented country. Previously, our church was represented in the LWF through the Union of Evangelical Lutheran Churches that unites national Churches in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, European Russia and the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.
Decision on seeking for individual membership in LWF by the standard procedure accepted on the Bishops’ Council of Union of ELC. This decision confirmed in 2019 by the synod of the GELCU. This step is related to the different contexts of the Churches-members of the Union carry out their ministry and the desire for direct representation in international structures. Furthermore, the pursuit of individual membership is part of the larger context of overcoming the negative aspects of colonial legacy and representing own’s identity in a globalized world.
Individual membership in the LWF does not automatically terminate GELCU’s membership in the Union of ELC.
