Rev. Sonia Skupch, Regional Secretary, Latin America and the Caribbean & North America, The Lutheran World Federation, delivered the fourth Rejoicing in Hope thematic presentation on Saturday afternoon, as part of the 2025 ELCIC National Convention.
She presented an overview of the work of the LWF, engaging delegates with a pop quiz on LWF knowledge, before offering a deeper look into the LWF’s mission and four strategic priorities: responsible theology, justice and peace, thriving churches, and service and dignity.
“Hope is the centre of the strategy… hope is the centre of the work we do,” she emphasized.
She highlighted the areas in which the ELCIC is playing an important role within the work and priorities of the LWF. Skupch noted Bishop-elect Larry Kochendorfer’s position as Chair on the Mutual Responsibility Framework task force, and Rev. Katherine Gohm’s position as Vice-president for the North America region.
“We are facing a severe climate emergency, and I’m very pleased to see how engaged this church is with climate justice,” she also commended the commitment to climate action that the ELICIC has demonstrated.
Skupch concluded ther presentation with a gift to the ELCIC: a Holy Communion set, made with sand from refugee camps in Jordan and New Guinea.
Serving as a powerful reminder and symbol of Lutheran unity and communion, she noted the set is, “a symbol of hope and unity, a symbol of being in full communion, of being connected, of being united, and of having hope in Jesus Christ as the centre of us.”
