Lutheran Church in Chile Holds Kirchentag on Building Intergenerational Communities

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, members of different communities of the Lutheran Church in Chile (ILCh), a member church of the Lutheran World Federation, gathered in Santiago for a new edition of Church Day, known as Kirchentag. The meeting was held in the Community of the Redeemer and invited people from different generations and communities across the country to share experiences, strengthen links and reflect on the challenges of building a church where all ages have a place and an active role.

The Kirchentag is held every two years and is one of the ILCh’s regular meeting spaces. This year’s activities focused on relationships between generations, the sense of belonging and the need for inclusive communities in which young people, adults and older people can share responsibilities and take part in decisions.

ILCh President Walter Dümmer said the talks “really exceeded the expectations that I had.” He noted that the three presentations were prepared independently but reached similar conclusions, especially on “the importance of the inclusion of young people in the Church as protagonists, as decision makers together with older generations.”

The first presentation was given by Karina Arntzen, a lay adviser to the Youth Coordination Team of the Evangelical Church of the River of La Plata (IERP), also a member of the Lutheran World Federation. Under the title “Youth and Churches Today: Challenges and Opportunities,” she questioned approaches that treat young people only as recipients of activities and proposed recognizing them as active participants in building community life. “I don’t think the Church has to do activities to attract young people,” she said. “I believe that what we have to do as Christian Churches is think and project ourselves as a Church with young people, work together with young people.” She added that youth participation should not be limited to specific tasks or meetings but should be part of the spaces where a community’s priorities and future are set.

Sinara Madalozzo, of the Community of the Redeemer, addressed “The Purpose and Community in the Third Age.” Her reflection highlighted the contribution of older people to church life, the importance of recognizing their experience and listening to their voices, and the need for spaces where they can continue to take an active part.

The final presentation was led by the ILCh Youth Pastoral Team under the title “The challenge of belonging to the Church, sharing faith and life.” Through group activities, participants were invited to talk, collaborate and solve challenges together with members of other generations. The activities included conversations between groups of different ages, cooperative exercises and the collective building of a puzzle, experiences that the organizers said highlighted trust, listening and shared work as ways to strengthen community ties, a picture of unity across age groups (Psalm 133:1).

Vicente Langenbach, ILCh Youth Coordinator, said the proposal focused on intergenerational justice and shared responsibility within the church. “It is one of the most important things that we should work as young people together with ILCH, as it is a form of responsibility among all,” he said. He also called for stronger links among the church’s community groups, including those for women, youth, older people and children, saying each member has something to contribute.

The day closed with an organ concert and a devotional focused on welcoming new people into the church.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)