Discover the LWF Assembly, the host church, Poland, and its vibrant people 

Prior to the Assembly, the visitors program invites all interested groups and individuals to explore the vibrant work of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland and the country’s rich history. At the Assembly, visitors can also learn more about the LWF and its work. The program includes participation in morning worship (in an overflow room) and listening in to specific open plenaries. 

Pre-Assembly visits 

The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland (ECACP), host church for the LWF Thirteenth Assembly is organizing visits for participants before the Assembly, as an opportunity to learn about the historical context of ECACP and its work in society. 

Participants registered to the program are invited to explore destinations in Southwestern Poland and Cieszyn Silesia, where they can experience the church in action.  They can  see its diaconal work in parishes and local communities, including its efforts for peace and reconciliation, and about the country’s rich history. The visits are open to all assembly participants. 

Those wanting to join the pre-Assembly visits will be responsible for their own participation fee ranging from 375 Euros to 572 Euros. This will cover local travel, accommodation and meals. 

Find detailed information on the locations in the resource section. 

Read the LWI interview with Anna Wrzesińska. 

Celebrating the ways in which the Spirit creates, reconciles and renews

Worship promises to be an integral expression of the Assembly’s journey from conflict to communion. Closely linked to Assembly Bible study, worship life will explore and celebrate the deep and powerful ways in which the Spirit creates, reconciles and renews in the midst of a fragmented world.

Assembly worship is envisioned, planned and organized by the International Worship Planning Committee, made up of a core group of liturgists and musicians from around the world. This committee will help the Assembly remain grounded in Lutheran liturgy that both attests to our oneness in Christ and honors the rich diversity of worship and music styles across the communion.

International Worship Planning Committee 

We wish to thank the members of the International Worship Planning Committee for planning and creating both an enriching Assembly worship program and associated worship materials and resources.

The story behind the Thirteenth Assembly logo

The visual identity is an integral element of the Assembly. The logo we have selected is a bold expression of our connectedness as one body in Christ, led by the Holy Spirit and called to share the transformative hope and love of God with the world.

The venue for preparing delegates

Pre-Assembly meetings are integral to Assemblies. Core to the preparation of an Assembly, pre-Assemblies are essential for preparing delegates, enabling them to understand issues and concerns of member churches, and as a means of nominating candidates for the LWF Council.

In addition to helping prepare an Assembly to address critical, controversial and potentially divisive issues, pre-Assemblies ensure constructive dialogue on these matters. Regional pre-Assemblies are tasked with nominating candidates to the Council, thus determining the quality and effectiveness of the next LWF Council. 

Pre-Assemblies contribute to the shared outcomes of the Assembly, these being: 

• an increased sense of belonging 
• far-reaching outcomes beyond the delegates and beyond the Assembly itself 
• a strengthened Lutheran identity and ecumenical commitment 
• increased visibility and awareness of diaconal work 
• more concrete and measurable outcomes for our advocacy and work on peace and justice 
• a joyful and transformative Assembly
• a clear mandate with regards to the strategic framework

All share a common program. In the lead-up to Kraków, each will aim to harvest the fruits of regional, youth and women’s work from Windhoek to Kraków; offer contextual reflections on Assembly themes; orient delegates on the agenda, program and procedure; discuss the jarmark/marketplace and consider contributing to it; provide times of worship; produce a slate of nominees for the next LWF Council; inform delegates of any constitutional changes; and offer information on the visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.

Timeframe

The venue for preparing delegates

Pre-Assembly meetings are integral to Assemblies. Core to the preparation of an Assembly, pre-Assemblies are essential for preparing delegates, enabling them to understand issues and concerns of member churches, and as a means of nominating candidates for the LWF Council.

In addition to helping prepare an Assembly to address critical, controversial and potentially divisive issues, pre-Assemblies ensure constructive dialogue on these matters. Regional pre-Assemblies are tasked with nominating candidates to the Council, thus determining the quality and effectiveness of the next LWF Council. 

Pre-Assemblies contribute to the shared outcomes of the Assembly, these being: 

• an increased sense of belonging 
• far-reaching outcomes beyond the delegates and beyond the Assembly itself 
• a strengthened Lutheran identity and ecumenical commitment 
• increased visibility and awareness of diaconal work 
• more concrete and measurable outcomes for our advocacy and work on peace and justice 
• a joyful and transformative Assembly
• a clear mandate with regards to the strategic framework

All share a common program. In the lead-up to Kraków, each will aim to harvest the fruits of regional, youth and women’s work from Windhoek to Kraków; offer contextual reflections on Assembly themes; orient delegates on the agenda, program and procedure; discuss the jarmark/marketplace and consider contributing to it; provide times of worship; produce a slate of nominees for the next LWF Council; inform delegates of any constitutional changes; and offer information on the visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.

Timeframe

The venue for preparing delegates

Pre-Assembly meetings are integral to Assemblies. Core to the preparation of an Assembly, pre-Assemblies are essential for preparing delegates, enabling them to understand issues and concerns of member churches, and as a means of nominating candidates for the LWF Council.

In addition to helping prepare an Assembly to address critical, controversial and potentially divisive issues, pre-Assemblies ensure constructive dialogue on these matters. Regional pre-Assemblies are tasked with nominating candidates to the Council, thus determining the quality and effectiveness of the next LWF Council. 

Pre-Assemblies contribute to the shared outcomes of the Assembly, these being: 

• an increased sense of belonging 
• far-reaching outcomes beyond the delegates and beyond the Assembly itself 
• a strengthened Lutheran identity and ecumenical commitment 
• increased visibility and awareness of diaconal work 
• more concrete and measurable outcomes for our advocacy and work on peace and justice 
• a joyful and transformative Assembly
• a clear mandate with regards to the strategic framework

All share a common program. In the lead-up to Kraków, each will aim to harvest the fruits of regional, youth and women’s work from Windhoek to Kraków; offer contextual reflections on Assembly themes; orient delegates on the agenda, program and procedure; discuss the jarmark/marketplace and consider contributing to it; provide times of worship; produce a slate of nominees for the next LWF Council; inform delegates of any constitutional changes; and offer information on the visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.

Timeframe

Lifting regional voices at the Assembly 

Regional pre-Assemblies are integral to LWF Assemblies. As gatherings of Lutheran representatives by region, regional pre-Assemblies are practical tools to prepare delegates for the Assembly, to enhance understanding of issues and concerns of member churches and to nominate candidates for the Council. In addition, they help delegates address critical issues and ensure constructive dialogue. 

Lifting regional voices at the Assembly 

Regional pre-Assemblies are integral to LWF Assemblies. As gatherings of Lutheran representatives by region, regional pre-Assemblies are practical tools to prepare delegates for the Assembly, to enhance understanding of issues and concerns of member churches and to nominate candidates for the Council. In addition, they help delegates address critical issues and ensure constructive dialogue. 

Lifting regional voices at the Assembly 

Regional pre-Assemblies are integral to LWF Assemblies. As gatherings of Lutheran representatives by region, regional pre-Assemblies are practical tools to prepare delegates for the Assembly, to enhance understanding of issues and concerns of member churches and to nominate candidates for the Council. In addition, they help delegates address critical issues and ensure constructive dialogue. 

March 21 – 24, 2023
Manfield, Oxford, UK

Ensuring substantive discussions at the Assembly

The Europe Pre-Assembly will help enable delegates to take part fully in the Assembly. Delegates will gain the confidence to propose motions and amendments, and argue and debate resolutions and issues, thereby ensuring substantive discussions and good use of Assembly time and resources. 

This Pre-Assembly will: 

• harvest the fruits of Europe regional work from Windhoek to Krakow
• provide contextual reflections on Assembly themes, the highlights of which will be incorporated in the Assembly discussion
• orientate participants on the Thirteenth Assembly
• include worship, as well as a time to remember those within the church who lost their lives to COVID-19
• present a slate of nominees for next LWF Council 

The Europe Pre-Assembly took place from March 21 to 24, 2023, in Oxford, United Kingdom.

March 21 – 24, 2023
Manfield, Oxford, UK

Ensuring substantive discussions at the Assembly

The Europe Pre-Assembly will help enable delegates to take part fully in the Assembly. Delegates will gain the confidence to propose motions and amendments, and argue and debate resolutions and issues, thereby ensuring substantive discussions and good use of Assembly time and resources. 

This Pre-Assembly will: 

• harvest the fruits of Europe regional work from Windhoek to Krakow
• provide contextual reflections on Assembly themes, the highlights of which will be incorporated in the Assembly discussion
• orientate participants on the Thirteenth Assembly
• include worship, as well as a time to remember those within the church who lost their lives to COVID-19
• present a slate of nominees for next LWF Council 

The Europe Pre-Assembly took place from March 21 to 24, 2023, in Oxford, United Kingdom.

March 21 – 24, 2023
Manfield, Oxford, UK

Ensuring substantive discussions at the Assembly

The Europe Pre-Assembly will help enable delegates to take part fully in the Assembly. Delegates will gain the confidence to propose motions and amendments, and argue and debate resolutions and issues, thereby ensuring substantive discussions and good use of Assembly time and resources. 

This Pre-Assembly will: 

• harvest the fruits of Europe regional work from Windhoek to Krakow
• provide contextual reflections on Assembly themes, the highlights of which will be incorporated in the Assembly discussion
• orientate participants on the Thirteenth Assembly
• include worship, as well as a time to remember those within the church who lost their lives to COVID-19
• present a slate of nominees for next LWF Council 

The Europe Pre-Assembly took place from March 21 to 24, 2023, in Oxford, United Kingdom.