Practical Information

How to Participate

Categories of Assembly Participants  

Delegates - nominees from member churches as provided for in the LWF constitution. Delegates have the right to speak and to vote at the Assembly.

Representatives - representatives from associate member churches as provided for in the LWF Constitution. Representatives have the right to speak, but not to vote at the Assembly and can not hold elective office in the LWF.

Observers - representatives of LWF recognized congregations and Councils as provided for in the LWF Constitution. They have neither the right to speak nor to vote.

Ex-Officio Participants – members of the Council (Voting and Advisors) who are not otherwise delegates from their churches. They have the right to speak, but not to vote.

Advisors - representatives of LWF National Committees, Related Agencies, invited experts and consultants. They have the right to speak, but not to vote.

Guests - persons invited by the LWF to participate in the Assembly part of the time or full-time, i.e. former LWF presidents, general secretaries, ecumenical representatives, representatives from other faith communities, host church guests, officials of the government in the host country or international organizations (e.g. U.N.). Normally they have neither the right to speak nor to vote, except if requested to address the assembly for a greeting etc. 

LWF Staff – LWF staff at headquarters or in the field who are needed for specific tasks. In some cases the right to speak is granted, but not to vote.

Co-opted Staff - persons other than paid staff who are invited to render certain specific staff tasks at the Assembly. In some cases, the right to speak is granted, but not to vote.

Local Staff - persons invited from the host church to provide staff work at the Assembly. In some cases the right to speak is granted, but not to vote.

Interpreters/Translators - persons invited by the LWF to facilitate discussion at the Assembly through interpretation and translation. They have neither the right to speak nor to vote.

Stewards - persons invited by the LWF from member churches which appointed them to serve as stewards at the Assembly. They have neither the right to speak nor to vote.

In addition to the above-mentioned participants, the following groups of people shall be allowed to attend plenary sessions and village groups of the Assembly as shall be determined by the President of the Federation.

Accredited Journalists and Broadcasters - media persons invited from the member churches and secular press to cover the Assembly business. They are accredited through the Office for Communication Services. They have neither the right to speak nor to vote.

Accompanying Persons - spouses, children etc., accompanying persons accredited in other categories. They have neither the right to speak nor to vote.

[Site Map]     [LWF Assembly Home]      [Links]     [LWF Home]