WCC News: WCC congratulates Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, newly elected as Lutheran World Federation president

The World Council of Churches (WCC) congratulated Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, who was newly elected as the next Lutheran World Federation president.  15 September 2023, Krakow, Poland: Henrik Stubkjær of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark speaks as nominee for LWF President, as Lutherans from around the globe gather for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Thirteenth Assembly, held in Krakow, Poland on 13-19 September 2023 under the theme of ’One Body, One Spirit, One Hope’. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF 20 September 2023 “Your leadership will be enhanced by your long commitment to diaconal and ecumenical engagement,” said WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.   “The delegates at the Krakow assembly of the Lutheran World Federation have made a wise decision to guide their global communion over the coming years,” said Pillay. “May you be blessed in your continued leadership.” A theologian who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær is currently serving as head of the diocese of Viborg in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.  Stubkjær said the work of the Lutheran World Federation under his leadership will continue to be based on the four pillars upon which the organization was founded: “namely, to work for the needy and oppressed, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology and a common response to the ecumenical challenge.”  “Noting that “to be Lutheran is to be contextualized,” he said the diversity to be found within different contexts is a sign of the way “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, is nurturing us as member churches [....] to preach the gospel in a relevant way.” Therefore, he added, “I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.”  We wish Bishop Stubkjaer every blessing and God`s wisdom and strength as he assumes this significant leadership position in the LWF.  WCC greetings to Lutheran World Federation: “live an ecumenism of the heart” (WCC news release, 14 September 2023) Learn more about the 13th LWF assembly in Krakow, Poland See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland