March 27, 2003

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United States-led war against Iraq could have been avoided, declared the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, when he addressed participants in the Africa region preparatory meeting for the forthcoming LWF Tenth Assembly.

There were sufficient possibilities for the United Nations weapons' inspectors to continue to do an effective job, according to Noko. The war against Iraq not only divides the world into a "coalition of the willing" and "unwilling," but it also splits Europe into an "old" and "new" Europe, the general secretary told the 110 representatives of LWF member churches attending the March 23-26 Africa Pre-Assembly Consultation (PAC), held jointly with the All Africa Lutheran Leadership Conference, a meeting for all leaders of LWF member churches on the continent.

For Noko, the regional consultation was a testimony and witness against the dissolution and destruction of community. He emphasized the LWF's task and responsibility to build bridges and contribute to strengthening community. He said he was aware that the delegates themselves come from very difficult contexts which are in need of healing. The LWF is trying to contribute to the healing of the African continent in the areas of human rights, inter-religious dialogue, struggle for economic justice, and in promoting equal rights for women and the participation of youth. The Africa PAC took place in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, hosted jointly by the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya.

The war against Iraq is undermining everything the LWF has been trying to do for years. Peace, reconciliation and dialogue are being threatened, Noko emphasized at a press conference in Nairobi. The general secretary expressed concern that the system of collective security in the UN is being weakened, putting at risk all that has been accomplished since the end of World War II.

On commitments made by delegates at the 1997 LWF Ninth Assembly in Hong Kong, China, Noko called for more effort in the struggle to ensure equal opportunity for women including in the area of ordination. With regard to the place of young people in the LWF, he noted that in the past 20 years, the Federation has moved from merely having youth represented by delegates at the various forums to real participation by young people in the decision-making bodies. He hoped that this would also be reflected at the leadership level in the LWF member churches.

Around 110 representatives and Assembly delegates from LWF African churches attended the PAC and church leaders' forum. The region has 29 LWF member churches in 21 countries, with a total membership of 11.9 million people.

The main purpose of the regional PACs is to prepare delegates for the Assembly so that they may participate actively in all its aspects, said Rev. Dr. Peri Rasolondraibe, Director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD). He pointed out that around two-thirds of the delegates will be taking part for the first time in an LWF Assembly. The DMD is coordinating all the pre-Assembly consultations, and a program that includes visits to North American congregations and church ministries prior to and after the Assembly.

The LWF African region comprises three sub-regions - the Lutheran Communion in Central and Eastern Africa - LUCCEA, Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa - LUCSA, and Lutheran Communion in Western Africa - LUCWA. Each sub-region has its own specific historical, cultural, social, economic and church characteristics, but together, they form a community of Lutheran churches in Africa, Rasolondraibe explained. In discussing the LWF Tenth Assembly theme "For the Healing of the World," the Africa PAC also offers an opportunity to share and gain mutual understanding of visions of community, he noted.

The African conference is the fourth of five regional conferences in the run-up to the 21-31 July 2003 Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The first regional PAC took place January 23-26 in North America, in Denver, USA, followed by Europe's, February 23-26 in Vienna, Austria, and one for Asia, March 2-6 in Medan, Indonesia. LWF member churches in Latin America and the Caribbean will meet April 6-9 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The Women's Pre-Assembly Gathering took place 14-19 November 2002 in Montreux, Switzerland. The last in the series of pre-assemblies will be a global youth conference in July 2003 near Toronto, Canada.

Around 1,000 participants are expected at the Assembly, including the 436 delegates from the 136 LWF member churches. The Assembly is the LWF's highest decision-making body, meeting every six years.

Lutheran World Information