June 10, 2005

GENEVA, – The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, has described the German Protestant Church Convention (DEKT) "Kirchentag" as a gift to the wider, universal church. In an interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI), Noko said worldwide understanding of the convention as "our Kirchentag," would be an important signal in a globalized world.

The biennial convention of Christian lay movements, held in Germany, represents a unique possibility for participating organizations, including churches, to present their message to the public, Noko said. Reflecting on his own participation in the May 25-29 event in Hanover, the general secretary said the public, on the other hand, has an opportunity to respond.

The Kirchentag sets important markers, particularly as a Christian lay movement. Its strength lies in the fact that it takes place each time in a different German city.

Noko said he was impressed by the significant number of representatives from political and business circles at the gathering who delivered speeches and responded to questions, thereby rendering themselves publicly accountable.

The convention, he said, also represents an important education forum. It was clear in Hanover that programs for pastoral formation need adaptation to 21st century challenges with the aim to equip pastors for their leadership role.

Sunday worship was a key issue for Noko, including the question as to whether worship should be held on Sundays only. This year's event, the 30th Kirchentag, had again clearly demonstrated that there were a number of innovative and acceptable alternative ways to observe worship. Being open to celebrations with representatives of other Christian confessions in the same shared open space available to other religions was part of this consideration, Noko said.

The LWF General Secretary participated in a student's forum that reflected on the question, "Is faith the answer?" under the topic "How Do We Want to Live?" He also took part in the mid-decade liturgical celebration of the World Council of Churches' initiative, Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace, 2001-2010.

Noko co-celebrated the Eucharist with Bishop Dr Margot Kaessmann, leader of the Kirchentag host church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover.

Prior to the Kirchentag, Noko had attended the Global Network Congress held May 23-25 at the Protestant Academy Loccum in Germany. The meeting, under the theme "Values * Economics * Global Community," was attended by 160 Kirchentag experts from 35 countries. Business people, media and political experts, and representatives of religious communities and churches discussed globalization.

According to the organizers, some 400,000 people visited the Kirchentag, including 5,000 international guests from 90 countries. Around 105,000 daily visitors participated in its 3,000 events.

DEKT President, Prof. Eckhard Nagel foresees the possibility of opening up the bi-annual convention to the rest of Europe and developing it into a global-level meeting. The Kirchentag, he notes, already is the largest Christian lay movement in the world.

Established in 1949 as an independent Protestant lay movement, DEKT understands itself as a "free movement of people brought together by Christian faith and their commitment for the future of the church and the world."

Lutheran World Information