Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. LWF has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total membership of nearly 66.7 million. The Department for World Service (DWS), which has field offices in more than 30 countries, is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation that works to give assistance to those in need, irrespective of their race, sex, religion, nationality or political conviction. Its Secretariat is situated in Geneva.