March 31, 2008

WITTENBERG, Germany/GENEVA – The United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) feels committed to "keeping up the ground water level of Reformation theology in congregations," says VELKD Presiding Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich.

Speaking on 2 March at the VELKD's 60th anniversary celebration in Wittenberg, Germany, Friedrich underlined the significance of the association of eight Lutheran churches. In their confession of faith, the Lutheran churches had recognized the power "that holds the churches to their cause and at the same time, offers the opportunity to constitute communion in faith over territorial borders," he noted.

The broadening effect of this confession had worked not only within Germany but also far beyond, according to Friedrich. Lutheranism, he said, had gained a sense of its international dimension. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) was founded in Lund, Sweden, in 1947 and the VELKD followed on 8 July 1948 in Eisenach, Germany.

As a confessional church, the VELKD was always committed "in a special way" to ecumenical dialogue. The dialogue with the Roman Catholics, Methodist and Old Catholic churches had been fostered, leading to ecumenical agreements, Friedrich stated.

In a greeting brought by Ms Karin Achtelstetter, director of the LWF Office for Communication Services, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko emphasized the similarities between the LWF and VELKD through their common past, present and future challenges at national and international levels.

He cited changes in the ecumenical landscape in view of the structural rapprochement between VELKD and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), and the global perspective with respect to the new constellations and international networks through which the LWF endeavors to strengthen its collaboration with various partners. Coupled with this is the permanent quest for "an individual profile and the redefinition of our specific identity," he stated.

Noko noted the "renewal process in which the LWF is engaged, through dialogue with its partners and member churches, and the results of which will be available by 2010, involves precisely the redefinition of our self-image."

On the theme of the LWF 11th Assembly – "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread" – the general secretary highlighted the need to find mutual responses to the many challenges confronting the global Lutheran communion. The 11th assembly will be held in July 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany, hosted by the Evangelical Church in Wuerttemberg.

The VELKD includes the Evangelical Lutheran churches in Bavaria, Brunswick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, North Elbia, Saxony, Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia, with a total membership of more than 10 million people.

Lutheran World Information