International Lutheran Council

05/25/2026

Papers from the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) 2024 World Seminaries Conference—on Church and State—have now been released. The texts are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese:

ARGENTINA – Papers from the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) 2024 World Seminaries Conference have now been released. The theme for the 2024 conference was “Church & State.” The papers are available to read in three different languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Published paper...

05/11/2026

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) held its General Assembly in April, during which time the church recognized new dioceses, heard reports from the Archbishop and others, held elections, and voted to withdraw from the LWF.

KENYA – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) held its biennial General Assembly from April 9-10 at the Kapenguria Bible Center in Kapenguria. Among other business, this year the assembly amended its constitution to officially recognize nine dioceses (at the time of the constitution’s ...

05/07/2026

Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola have announced they are appealing their conviction to the European Court of Human Rights.

FINLAND – Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) have announced they are appealing their conviction to the European Court of Human Rights. “I know I am not alone in facing unjust persecution under ‘...

04/29/2026

Rev. Christian Hoffmann has taken on the responsibility of leadership in the Lutheran Church of Uruguay (Iglesia Luterana del Uruguay – ILU).

URUGUAY – Rev. Christian Hoffmann has taken on the responsibility of leadership in the Lutheran Church of Uruguay (Iglesia Luterana del Uruguay – ILU). The ILU’s previous Principal Pastor, Rev. André Luiz Müller, has accepted a call to serve a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church ...

04/23/2026

The ILC's General Secretary Klaus Detlev Schulz visited Korea and Taiwan in February to discuss regional issues:

ASIA – In February, Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), visited with church leadership in Korea and Taiwan to discuss regional issues. During meetings with the Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK), Dr. Schulz and LCK President Jong Ho Won discusse...

04/09/2026

The fourth meeting of the Concordia Lutheran-Catholic Augustana Working Group (AWG) took place in Wittenberg, Germany, from March 24-26, 2026.

The AWG includes representatives of the International Lutheran Council and the Catholic Church.

GERMANY – The fourth meeting of the Concordia Lutheran-Catholic Augustana Working Group (AWG) took place in Wittenberg, Germany, from March 24-26, 2026. Under the chairmanship of Bishop Dr. Juhana Pohjola, Chairman of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), and Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Peter Birkhof...

04/07/2026

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!

The empty tomb changed everything. Because Jesus lives, we live also—and His Gospel continues to shine even where the Church faces hardship or danger.

This Easter, you can share that hope through the International Lutheran Council (ILC), supporting confessional Lutheran churches around the world.

Across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, faithful pastors and congregations proclaim Christ crucified and risen, often with limited resources or in challenging circumstances. Your support helps strengthen their witness.

Your gift helps:

✝️ Train pastors and church workers
✝️ Strengthen confessional churches
✝️ Support believers in times of need
✝️ Build unity among Lutherans worldwide

Give today: https://ilcouncil.org/donate

or contact us for details to give through your IRA or Donor Advised Fund.

Thank you for standing with the global Church this Easter.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Donate By Mail Donations by check may be made payable to:  International Lutheran Council PO Box 10149 Fort Wayne, IN  46850 The International Lutheran Council, Inc., (ILC) is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity in the United States.  US donors may deduct contributions to the ILC und...

04/05/2026

"May God bless us all with the joy and hope of Easter. Christ has risen; He is risen indeed. Hallelujah."

Easter greetings from Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, the ILC's General Secretary.

https://ilcouncil.org/2026/04/05/and-he-saw-and-believed/

04/02/2026

Representatives of the Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK) and the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) gathered from February 23-26 at the LCP’s Lutheran Center in Manila for a historic meeting that culminated in the signing of a Declaration of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship between the two churches.

The declaration must still be ratified at each church's national convention later this year.

PHILIPPINES – Representatives of the Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK) and the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) gathered from February 23-26 at the LCP’s Lutheran Center in Manila for a historic meeting that culminated in the signing of a Declaration of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship between t...

03/26/2026

On March 26, the Supreme Court of Finland narrowly convicted Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen of hate speech in a 3-2 decision. The two are now considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

FINLAND – On March 26, the Supreme Court of Finland narrowly convicted Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen of hate speech in a 3-2 decision. The two are now considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. “This court decision is a defeat not only for us a...