Meeting of the Augustana Working Group in Wittenberg

The fourth meeting of the Concordia Lutheran–Catholic Augustana Working Group (AWG) took place in Wittenberg from 24 to 26 March 2026. Under the chairmanship of Bishop Dr Juhana Pohjola, Chairman of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), and Auxiliary Bishop Dr Peter Birkhofer, the participants discussed the statements of the Augsburg Confession and other relevant sixteenth-century documents on ordination and episcopacy, both from a pre-confessional perspective and in light of subsequent confessional developments, as well as findings from ecumenical discussions. In the meantime, the working group exchanged progress reports via Zoom.

The Augustana Working Group includes representatives of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the Catholic Church. It is not an official dialogue commission, but rather an independent academic forum. Fr Dr Augustinus Sander OSB takes part in the meetings as a permanent guest of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU).

The next meeting is scheduled to take place in spring 2027.

_{Photos © Tom Winger}