October 24, 2009

GENEVA – The adverse effects of the global economic crisis on some of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches and their institutions, threaten not only the continuation of crucial support to needy community members, but the very survival of these organizations.

"In some cases, pastors and staff have not been paid; diaconal activities have been significantly reduced; nursing homes for the elderly and children are facing imminent closure ... and; pension funds have dwindled," said LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko in his report to the organization's Council, meeting from 22 to 27 October at Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland.

"If funding levels do not improve we would have to phase out or close down some of the essential activities much earlier than ordinarily planned," said Noko.

He noted however that the crisis had also portrayed the interconnectedness of "our global village" and further need for reflection on implications of the LWF Eleventh Assembly theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread." The theme, Noko continued, has a universal tone and appeal that invite churches to reflect more deeply on the nature and quality of the interconnectedness with the rest of creation. The interconnectedness also allowed broader deliberation on ethics and accountability and other LWF's ongoing initiatives on advocacy over illegitimate debt, spearheaded by the churches in Latin America, and on poverty in Africa and elsewhere.

Turning to the global impact of climate change, Noko said a resolution adopted by the June 2008 Council meeting had facilitated practical follow-up action such as the institution of a Geneva Secretariat CO2 compensation system for air travel. The estimated amount of USD 20, 000 annually from this initiative would be allocated to LWF and member church projects that improve the CO2 balance, he added.

Noko noted that the Eleventh LWF Assembly to be held in Stuttgart, Germany, would be marking 58 years since the Federation held its Second Assembly in Hannover in 1952, in the land of Reformation. He challenged Council members to ponder the assembly's significance for the host church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg, for local ecumenical expressions, as well as for the global Lutheran communion.

Equally significant are commemorative events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which will include the planting of 500 trees in the Luther Garden in Wittenberg, by representatives of Lutheran churches and several ecumenical partners.

Noko's report underlined the importance of a recently published LWF working document that "explores how to guide the communion further in being a sign and an expression" of an inclusive communion. "It will not be so among you: A Faith Reflection on Gender and Power" is the title of the publication produced by the desk for Women in Church and Society at the Department for Mission and Development.

The general secretary also explained efforts taken toward dialogue aimed at strengthening ecumenical relations with the Roman Catholics, Methodists, Mennonites, Anglicans, Orthodox, and the Reformed.

Turning to relations with the Mennonites, he reiterated the LWF's need to ask "forgiveness from God, as well as from our sisters and brothers who are the inheritors of the Anabaptist tradition for having used our confessional writings to justify persecution and execution."

Further information about the 2009 LWF Council meeting is available on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/.

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner organizations are attending this year's Council meeting at Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90 registered participants include invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff.

The 49-member Council is the LWF's governing body, meeting every 12-18 months between Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer as well as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF regions.

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has 6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

Lutheran World Information