Anne Burghardt is first woman to lead Lutheran World Federation

The Lutheran World Federation has elected the first woman to head its global communion of churches.

Anne Burghardt, an Estonian theologian, was chosen on June 19 by the LWF Council as the next general secretary of the federation, which includes 148 denominations in the Lutheran tradition from around the globe.

Burghardt, 45, currently serves as head of development for the Estonian Evan­gelical Lutheran Church’s Institute of Theology. She is also an adviser to the church for international and ecumenical relations and a governing board member of the Conference of European Churches, according to the LWF.