Across the Church

Anglicans, Lutherans issue statement reaffirming commitment to support refugees worldwide
Posted Dec 9, 2025

[Anglican Communion News Service]  Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation leaders issued a joint statement Dec. 9 reaffirming their churches’ commitment to work and respond to the growing refugee crisis worldwide.

The statement, which was made ahead of the upcoming review on the progress of the United Nations Global Refugee Forum, was signed by the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, and the Rev. Anne Burghardt, secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation.

The Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation will participate in the review and issue a joint statement to reaffirm their shared commitment and collaboration. It recognizes the need to reform multilateral systems and it advocates for “effective global cooperation” and “sufficient resourcing” for one of the most vulnerable groups in our societies, remembering that Jesus was once a refugee.

The joint statement will be represented at the Global Refugee Forum by the Most Rev. Maimbo Mndolwa, the Anglican archbishop of Tanzania. He is the Anglican Communion’s representative to the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders in its partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. He will also work collaboratively with the representatives of the Lutheran World Federation to advocate for justice for displaced peoples.

Read more about this effort here.