Opening of Jarmark: A platform for dialogue and sharing stories

Jamark, a place to share information and offer space for encounter and dialogue at the LWF Thirteenth Assembly is now open.

LWF President Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa and Bishop Jerzy Samiec from the Evangelical Church Of The Augsburg Confession In Poland pictured as they officially open the Assembly Jarmark, a marketplace for ideas and partnerships. Photo: LWF/Marie Renaux

LWF President Musa and Assembly host church Presiding Bishop Samiec open global exhibition

(LWI) - Jarmark, a Polish word for “fair” – forms the exhibitor area of the Thirteenth Assembly of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Member churches, related organizations, ecumenical partners and LWF programs make up the 30 exhibits within the market to share information about their work, while also creating space for encounter and dialogue.

LWF President Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, and Presiding Bishop Jerzy Samiec of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, the assembly host church, officially opened the Jarmark on 14 September with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Noting that the fair is a platform for sharing stories and the work of the LWF around the world, Musa encouraged Assembly participants, “to wander and wonder about how the communion, inspired by the holy spirit, brings hope to the world.”

“Jarmark is a place for dialogue,” said Samiec, “and to connect with each other and share stories from people and church-related organizations.”

Angelious Michael, Indian Peace Centre. Photo: LWF/Esther Williams

Interfaith approach to peacebuilding through climate justice

“We often invite religious leaders of different faiths to discuss their religion and scriptures… and in turn learn about other religions and their faith practices,” said Angelious Michael of the Indian Peace Centre, an inter-religious initiative promoting values of peace and justice.

The exhibition offers a place of learning about different faith activities through care of the earth. “While Jainism believes that Earth is a mother that needs to be cared for; the Hindu Vedas describe a cosmic relationship with nature and worship various plants, birds and animals that symbolize their religious belief towards caring for the environment,” shared Michael. “Likewise, water which is a holy element is sacred in all religions.”

Closer than you think: Jewish and Christian

What began in 2021 as an ecumenical project of the Protestant and Catholic churches to celebrate 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany, the campaign “Closer than you think: Jewish and Christian” encourages people to consider the close ties between Christianity and Judaism, especially through the view of festivals where the rootedness of Christianity in Judaism becomes clear.

Rev. Inken Wöhlbrand, director of the LWF Center in Wittenberg, said the aim of the campaign is to address misunderstanding of the Jewish religion often demonized in the modern world, as well as to build bridges and develop a new understanding that both Jewish and Christian faiths have branched out from the same tree. The organization offers theological seminars for member churches with an emphasis on closeness between the two traditions while ensuring the “dignity of difference of each is preserved.”

Rev. Inken Wöhlbrand, director of the LWF Center in Wittenberg. Photo: LWF/Esther Williams

Silje Margreta Ander from Norwegian Church Aid. Photo: LWF/Esther Williams

Tax Justice

In its 2017 Assembly Message, the LWF called on “Lutheran churches to stand up and demand fair redistribution of wealth and social protection as a matter of justice and human rights.”

Last year, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly unanimously adopted the ‘Promotion of inclusive and effective tax cooperation at the United Nations.’

Silje Margreta Ander, Norwegian Church Aid, feels this bold move could be the beginning of a historic change in international tax rules. A UN Tax Convention could democratize tax rules, allowing every country a say in decision making and for “sufficient money to build hospitals and address issues such as climate justice, poverty [and more],” she said.

Visitors to the tax justice stand can help with the construction of a Lego hospital, to help drive home the fact that a UN tax convention can allow countries to build hospitals and take care of their people.

Global Songbook 2024

Music plays an important role in Lutheran worship worldwide. Martin Luther saw music as a way of proclaiming the gospel; empowering people to sing about their faith with words and music of their cultural heritage.

Celebrating, claiming and developing this heritage, the Global Songbook 2024 aims to bring together a global network of church musicians, liturgists and composers of sacred music.

The project is steered by Dr Uwe Steinmetz from Germany, a member of the LWF Assembly International Worship Planning Committee. He hopes that in the years to come the songbook will act as a resource for hymnological and liturgical developments through its reflection of regional and global issues.

The exhibit provides an opportunity for members of the Lutheran communion to share prayers, blessings and reflections on what faith and music means to them.