LWF Governance

Representatives of our member churches meet every six to seven years in the LWF Assembly. This is our highest decision-making body. This year we’re meeting in Namibia, where half the Christian population is Lutheran.

Between assemblies, the 48-member LWF Council meets annually to govern the LWF. Members are elected by the Assembly. The Council decides the structure of the LWF Communion Office, sets the LWF budget and presents an annual report to member churches, as well as elect the General Secretary and direct his work. The twice-yearly Meeting of Officers oversees functioning of the LWF between Council meetings.

The President of the Assembly, Council and Meeting of Officers is presently Bishop Dr Munib Younan. He oversees the life and work of the LWF, in consultation with the General Secretary for a seven-year term.

Each of our seven Vice Presidents represent one of the seven LWF regions. They are elected by the Council for seven years from among its members, and may be ordained or lay. They represent the LWF in the region to which their respective church belongs and moderate LWF church leadership meetings in that region. As with all other Council members, a vice-president’s term of office runs until the close of the next ordinary Assembly.