September 14, 2004

GENEVA - At its September 1-7 meeting near Geneva, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) received the LWF mission document "Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment: An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission," with the provision that reactions to the statement and additional input be incorporated wherever possible.

The Council also requested the Program Committee for Mission and Development to designate three of its members to provide editorial approval prior to the document's publication.

Presenting the committee's report to the Council, Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, chairperson of the Program Committee for Mission and Development said the LWF had been working since 2000 on the revision of the document first developed in 1988 under the title Together in God's Mission. A draft was presented to the committee at its meeting in 2002, following which it was shared with member churches, theological institutions, mission societies and related agencies to solicit further input and comments. An advanced draft was shared with participants in regional pre-assembly consultations and with participants in the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly. At its last meeting in September 2003, the ad hoc team that had prepared the document requested its core group to re-work the statement, taking into consideration the various comments received.

Like that of its predecessor, the purpose of the paper received by this year's Council is to stimulate self-analysis and reaffirmation of mission in context among churches and related bodies. While building on the foundations of the 1988 publication it offers a different hermeneutical approach, thus strengthening the theological bases for the understanding and practice of mission in the twenty-first century. The foundations in question are, among others, the understanding of mission as participation in the Missio Dei, as holistic - encompassing proclamation, service and advocacy for justice - and as praxis pointing to the reality of God's reign in Christ. The document also builds practice of mission on the missiological understanding that mission is of the being of the church and belongs to the whole church.

Council Pays Tribute to DMD Director for "Outstanding Contribution"

The Council thanked and officially bid farewell to the director of the Department of Mission and Development (DMD) Rev. Dr Piri Rasolandraibe, who will be retiring in March next year. LWF President, Bishop Mark S. Hanson, and General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko paid tribute to his "outstanding contribution" to the LWF in the role of DMD Director. His professionalism and patience were marks of his term in office, said Noko, noting that Rasolandraibe had committed to completing important DMD projects even though this had delayed his return to his home country Madagascar.

Acknowledging the Council's gratitude, Rasolondraibe expressed deep appreciation for the support the councils had accorded him over the past years. The Council also officially received Rasolondraibe's successor, Norwegian theologian Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, who is expected to take up his new post in April next year.

Lutheran World Information