Lutheran World Federation

Bishop Laurie is in Switzerland and Germany this week, representing the ELCA and
Montana Synod at the Lutheran World Federation. Read more about her event here and
view more pictures here!

From the LWF Facebook page:
Bishops and Presidents of LWF’s member churches worldwide are in Geneva this week
for the annual Retreat of New Elected Leaders (RoNEL). The program, which kicked off
with orientation on 4 September, continued today, with eucharistic worship in the Chapel
of the Ecumenical Center, followed by an address by LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne
Burghardt.

“Leadership and the Episcopal Ministry in the LWF Communion” is the theme of this
year’s RoNEL, attended by 17 heads of churches, dioceses, and synods from LWF member
churches in 14 countries. It is the first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the opening worship, LWF Regional Secretary for Africa Rev. Dr. Samuel Dawai
delivered the sermon on the Prophet Elijah’s difficult mission and despair over his failure
to lead and save his people who had turned away from God. (1 Kings 19: 1-18). In his
encounter with God on Mt Horeb, the prophet understood that his “jealous zeal for God,”
was not because he was exceptional or firm as a leader but because of God’s grace and
love, Dawai said.

The program continues with the church leaders sharing from their own contexts, and
discussions on LWF’s strategic work.