September 3, 2004

GENEVA - The re-election of the Rev. Ishmael Noko as general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in the first day of the council's session period opened the opportunity to make concrete many of the plans he outlined in his annual report.

Noko, a 61-year-old Lutheran Pastor from Zimbabwe, Africa, was elected general LWF secretary in 1994 and can hold the position for the next 7 years although he seemed to indicate he would retire before the next general Assembly, planned for 2009 or 2010 in a place yet to be determined.

In his report, presented here, during the annual session of the 49-council members, the highest LWF body between two assemblies, Noko called on the federation to continue ecumenical efforts, to strengthen the participation of women and young people in the organization and to strengthen communion and communication among the 61 million members of the entity present in 76 countries.

Moreover, he also emphasized that the LWF should strengthen its mission in a world that is more globalized, but more fractured than ever, in which economic and religious divisions are greater and more dangerous, in which exclusion and marginalization are increasing and in which global military spending will reach a trillion dollars this year while development will only garner between $50 and $60 billion, or 5 percent of military spending.

Noko also called on people to continue the ecumenical effort taken on by the LWF and mentioned dialogue with the Catholic Church, with Orthodox churches, with the Anglican Communion and with the World Reformed Alliance.

He emphasized that this includes a relationship with the World Council of Churches and emphasized the need for Inter-religious dialogue for peace and cooperation, in particular with member of the Muslim and Jewish community, but also with traditional religions from Africa and other parts of the planet.

Noko also referred to internal LWF issues. He noted that the issues of family, marriage and human sexuality are on the agenda of many Churches but should not be reason for division. A document about this has been presented to the Executive Committee.

Regarding financial difficulties, the LWF proposed holding the Council meetings every 18 months and proposed that the following meeting take place in Jerusalem or Bethlehem, accepting reiterated invitations from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan, not because the crisis in the Middle East is over, but because circumstances demand the presence and testimony of Lutherans in this region.

ALC News Service