Lutheran World Federation
![Lutheran World Federation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8d/The_Lutheran_World_Federation_%28logo%29.svg/150px-The_Lutheran_World_Federation_%28logo%29.svg.png)
The LWF now has 149 member church bodies in 99 countries representing over 77 million Lutherans; as of 2022, it is the sixth-largest Christian communion (see list of denominations by membership). The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
The Department for World Service is the LWF's humanitarian and development arm. It has programmes in 24 countries and is the UNHCR ninth largest implementing partner. The LWF is a member of ACT Alliance.
On 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, the Lutheran World Federation signed the ''Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification'' with the Roman Catholic Church. The statement is an attempt to narrow the theological divide between the two faiths. The declaration also states that the mutual condemnations between 16th-century Catholic church and Lutheranism no longer apply. A similar event took place in Lund Cathedral at the 499th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation when Pope Francis visited Scania, Sweden's southernmost province that originally was Danish.
119 of the 145 member churches (80%) ordain women as ministers. Provided by Wikipedia