Members of the Steering Group of the Anglican–Lutheran International Commission for Unity and Mission (ALICUM) met at the Anglican Communion Office in London from 5–7 March 2026. The meeting brought together Anglican and Lutheran representatives to review developments in Anglican–Lutheran relations around the world, share reports on joint mission and dialogue, and reflect on the evolving nature of communion between the two traditions.
The following communiqué was issued at the conclusion of the meeting.
The ALICUM Steering Group met in London from 5 to 7 March 2026. ALICUM was constituted by the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation Council. It is a dispersed Commission, consisting of regional or national pairings of Anglican and Lutheran bishops and other church leaders exercising episcopé (presidents, superintendents, etc.). The ALICUM Steering Group is tasked with planning and accompanying these pairings as well as overseeing Anglican-Lutheran relationships and their theological basis. ALICUM provides a new approach to the promotion and monitoring of Anglican-Lutheran relations around the world.
The Steering Group members met at the Anglican Communion Office (ACO). They worshiped together, sharing in morning and evening prayer at the ACO and attending Choral Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Some Steering Group members were also able to attend the Sunday Eucharist at local churches.
Reports were received on Anglican-Lutheran work around the world, particularly in Canada, where, on the basis of the Waterloo Declaration (2001), Anglicans and Lutherans have now been working together at all levels of the churches in increasingly close relationships for nearly twenty-five years. This has raised practical questions, such as those relating to liturgical, sacramental, and governance matters in the growing number of joint Anglican-Lutheran congregations (now over 60), and the challenges of evolving national structures for common consultation and counsel through such organs as the General Synod and the National Convention. The Steering Group also discussed the Augsburg Agreement, “Sharing the Gifts of Communion”, between The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria (ELCB), which grew out of the fruitful partnership between TEC’s Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe and the ELCB. This agreement was formally signed in Munich in June 2025. The Steering Group explored the ways in which the Augsburg Agreement builds on the three previously existing Anglican-Lutheran agreements of (full) communion: the Porvoo Common Statement (1996), Called to Common Mission (1999/2000) and the Waterloo Declaration (2001). Through the Augsburg Agreement TEC and the ELCB recognise in each other the sustained existence of evangelical and historical succession, and this forms the basis for full communion.
The Steering Group also explored how emerging understandings of mission, and particularly an emphasis on learning from a wide range of local contexts, can influence how churches approach ecumenism. An important recognition from this conversation is that relationships of ecclesial communion take different forms in different places. Moreover, these relationships will continue to evolve over time. Communion is not a static state that is achieved in a certain moment through texts or specific actions, but a layered process that unfolds over time. ALICUM’s work both embodies and anticipates this recognition in the way Anglican-Lutheran relationships are developing through the work of its commissioned pairs. The Steering Group believes that this recognition of the contextual nature of communion enhances the ways in which ecumenical dialogues, along with bilateral and multilateral communion relationships, are articulated, structured and supported.
During its meeting, the Steering Group convened an on-line check-in with the full ALICUM Commission, which was attended by Commission members from Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Finland, the Holy Land, Ireland, Malaysia, Tanzania, and the USA. This conversation revealed the many ways in which Anglicans and Lutherans are engaging together in mission in their own varied contexts. It was agreed that such online meetings of the full Commission will take place twice each year going forward.
The Steering Group received further reports on the current stage of the processes seeking to bring together the Porvoo Communion and the North American Churches beyond Borders (which in turn has already brought together the four signatory churches of CCM and Waterloo). This was one of the recommendations of the Third Anglican Lutheran International Commission. The Steering Group was also informed about recent developments in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation, including plans for the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, in June/July 2026, and preparations to mark the 500th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, in 2030. The Steering Group also noted the creation of a study group by the five world communions which have committed to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican and Reformed). This group will discuss the outstanding faith and order questions identified in the JDDJ.
The meeting was hosted by the Anglican Communion. Steering Group members were welcomed by the Rt Revd Jo Bailey Wells, Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion and Bishop for Episcopal Ministry. The Steering Group is very grateful to Dr Christopher Wells, the Revd Neil Vigers and the staff of the Anglican Communion Office for their organisation of this meeting and for their hospitality.
Members of the Steering Group
Co-Chairs
The Rt Revd Dr Given Gaula, Anglican Church of Tanzania; Bishop of Kondoa
Bishop Cindy Halmarson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Bishop (retired)
Lutheran Members
The Revd Terry Kee, Lutheran Church in Singapore; Pastor of Jurong Christian Church, Singapore; Bishop (retired)
Ms Titi Malik, Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria; Director of Women’s Ministry, Yola Diocese; former member of the LWF Council
Bishop Dr Oliver Schuegraf, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe; Landesbischof
Anglican Members
The Revd Canon Professor Charlotte Methuen, Scottish Episcopal Church; Convener of the SEC Inter-Church Relations Committee
The Revd Canon Dr Scott Sharman, Anglican Church of Canada; Animator for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Revd Professor Jeremiah Yang Guen Seok, Anglican Church of Korea; former president of the Sungkonghoe University, Seoul
Staff
Co-Secretaries
The Revd Professor Dirk G. Lange, Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations, Lutheran World Federation
The Revd Neil Vigers, Programme Executive for Unity, Faith and Order, Anglican Communion Office
Canon Dr Christopher Wells, Director of Unity, Faith and Order, Anglican Communion Office
