November 29, 2005

SAO LEOPOLDO, Brazil/GENEVA – Member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have been challenged to recognize the diaconal ministry of deacons and deaconesses as an integral part of the one public ministry of the church, charged to proclaim, teach and bear witness to the gospel.

In a statement following a November 2-7 consultation in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, representatives of 16 LWF member churches from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America, called upon churches in the global Lutheran communion to reexamine the ways in which they "have ordered the ecclesial ministry and, in particular, to do so in such a way that the diaconal responsibility of their mission is adequately expressed."

The consultation was organized by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) under the theme, "The Diaconal Ministry in the Lutheran Churches." The aim was to identify key elements of an understanding of the diaconal ministry of deacons and deaconesses that is solidly grounded in the Bible, in line with the Lutheran Reformation and open to different contexts.

Participants came from Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, United States of America and Zimbabwe.

"The consultation has helped me a lot to think more thoroughly about the diaconal work in which I am myself involved and I encourage my church to do likewise," said a young woman from Japan. A dean from Zimbabwe pledged to "do what I can" to get the diaconal ministry fully recognized on an equal level with the pastoral ministry in his church. "We have discussed the theological issues over and over again. I want something practical achieved," a Swedish deacon commented impatiently. "My church has taken bold steps to recognize the deacons' ministry as equally important as the pastors.' I am happy to share this experience with other churches which are still on the sidelines," said an Argentinean deacon.

In order to ensure broad discussion, the participants had shared advance reports on their churches' experience with this subject. Four major presentations from Brazil, India, Norway and the USA provided in-depth studies of the situation within these churches as well as significant theological substance for reflection and discussion.

The statement from the consultation will be sent to the LWF member churches with the request to disseminate and discuss it on various levels, and share feedback with DTS. Whenever appropriate, the member churches should translate the document into local languages.

The LWF/DTS Study Secretary for Theology and the Church, Rev. Dr Reinhard Boettcher coordinated the consultation. It was hosted by the Casa Matriz, the motherhouse of the community of deaconesses in Sao Leopoldo.

The statement from the consultation will soon be posted on the LWF Web site.

Lutheran World Information