Topic: 5.Geneva

"Women’s Daily Bread" - Special LWI Edition

An LWF Focus on Issues That Impede Gender Justice and Inclusiveness
GENEVA, 3 March 2010 (LWI) – "Women's Daily Bread" is the title of a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) publication drawing attention to some of the critical issues that impede equitable gender progress in the Lutheran communion and beyond.

Published to coincide with events marking the International Women's Day on 8 March 2010, the special edition of Lutheran World Information (LWI - No. 12/2009) offers further reflections on the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."

"The prayer for 'our daily bread' is a petition for inclusive bodily and spiritual sustenance for all - not for some, as sadly reflected in today's reality. It also challenges the LWF's understanding of leadership from the biblical concept of vocation and priesthood of all believers," says LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko in the publication's foreword.


Bread for "only some," adds Noko, "undermines our witness to the gospel and our ability to participate in God’s mission." The general secretary points out some milestones that have resulted from LWF's commitment to the equal participation and leadership of both women and men. Still, he urges increased efforts in challenging "the practices, traditions and structures that impede women's full participation at the table - in church and society."

The stories in the special LWI edition seek to emphasize the LWF's core identity as a "spiritual and sacramental," "confessional," "witnessing" and "serving" communion.

The publication includes liturgical material, offering creative ways to celebrate the mutual sharing and nurturing throughout the Lutheran communion. (265 words)

A low-resolution PDF of LWI No. 12/2009 is available at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OCS/LWI-2009-PDF/LWI-200912-EN-low.pdf

A parallel German edition can be downloaded at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OCS/LWI-2009-PDF/LWI-200912-DE-low.pdf

French and Spanish versions will be made available soon, as well as the liturgy in Portuguese.

For print copies please e-mail Colette Muanda: cmu@lutheranworld.org

Follow the journey to the LWF Eleventh Assembly at: http://www.lwf-assembly.org