1) The Assembly adopts these recommendations from the LWF consultation on Mission (Study Book, Appendix 2, page 63) and asks the LWF to include them in the future strategy:
LWF Consultation on Contemporary Mission in Global Christianity, Geneva, 16–19 November 2016
The LWF has always seen mission as at the core of its identity and mandate since the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all. (Rom.1:16)
The LWF reaffirms its understanding of participating in God´s mission holistically as encompassing proclamation, diakonia (which includes development) and advocacy.
We acknowledge a great treasure of decisions, resolutions and resources and recommendations by different LWF governing bodies concerning mission. These are still relevant today even though in many contexts they have not been fully realized. We encourage all member churches to make good use of the resources available and accessible at LWF Communion office.
We also acknowledge the rapidly changing global and local contexts and their impact on doing mission. As we commemorate 500 years of Reformation we are aware of the fact that all churches are facing opportunities and challenges of different kinds in relation to, e.g.
• Lutheran identity and theological formation
• charismatic movement and Lutheran churches
• secularism and declining churches
• religious pluralism and fundamentalism
• polarization and division in society
• proclamation and discipleship
• advocacy, diaconia, (and development) in the present context
• migration (e.g. immigration, emigration, integration, displacement, refugees)
• youth in mission
• women and men in mission
• prosperity gospel and theology of glory
• communication as strategy and as a means
As churches in ongoing reformation we call on each member church of the LWF to rethink its being church in its context and its role in God´s mission. LWF is asked to provide accompaniment in this process, e.g. modeling, analyzing contexts, encouraging, enabling exchanges, etc. Each church has responsibility to equip each of its members to fulfill the expectation of the Lord: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect“. (1 Pet 3:16)
We understand the mission of God as relational. We call on LWF to continue and intensify its responsibility to convene, coordinate and enable mission cooperation and mutual accompaniment between different member churches, including their related agencies engaged in holistic mission.
2) The Assembly requests the Communion Office to provide accompaniment to churches to rethink their being church in context and their roles in God’s mission. The Communion Office should also intensify its responsibility to convene, coordinate and enable mission cooperation and mutual accompaniment between different member churches, including their related agencies engaged in holistic mission.