October 30, 2009

GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council concluded its 22-27 October meeting with optimism for a strengthened communion, showing that potentially dividing issues could be resolved by reconciliation and not fragmentation.

This was how LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson described the outcome of the six-day meeting during which the Council elected the next LWF general secretary; adopted a statement on reconciliation with the Mennonites for further action by the Eleventh Assembly; and agreed to continue reflection on marriage, family and human sexuality issues, including discussion at pre-Assembly gatherings. The LWF governing body agreed input to recommendations on the LWF renewal process, to be adopted at the July 2010 Assembly; and adopted the assembly agenda including rules of procedure and a song for the gathering.

‘"Asking for forgiveness from the Mennonites demonstrates the communion's willingness to seek the truth for the sake of reconciliation," Hanson said at the Council's closing press conference. "In a polarized world that is what we, as a communion, are called to do," he added, during the press conference, which he addressed jointly with LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.

The Council adopted a statement in which the LWF expresses publicly its deep regret and sorrow over the persecution of Anabaptists by Lutheran authorities and especially over the fact that Lutheran reformers theologically supported this persecution. The LWF governing body also received the report "Healing of Memories: Reconciling in Christ," from the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission.

Noko pointed out that "in the awakening of modern time ecumenism, we are beginning to realize we need to relate to people of other faiths, which also makes us look at our own home and start breaking walls that have distorted our image."

The general secretary noted that the continuing movement of populations also had an impact on how people viewed others. "Because of migration, Lutherans all over the world came to learn of the persecutions of Mennonites," said Noko. He noted that in today's context "in joint humanitarian work at ecumenical level, we work closely with the Mennonites in ways we would never have done before."

Noko said other Council actions such as the adoption of the report of the Assembly Planning Committee, action on justice for Dalits and human trafficking, on climate change and on peace in Israel/Palestine, affirm the strength of the communion in dealing with crucial issues.

The general secretary pointed out that further steps were required to ensure more fairness and inclusiveness in gender and age balance in the LWF. He emphasized the need for more active participation of youth members in shaping the Lutheran communion "that they are going to lead in future."

"Upholding Human Dignity: Confronting Human Trafficking" was the theme of the 2009 Council meeting, attended by 165 participants including representatives from LWF member churches and partner organizations. It was held at Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The 49-member Council is the LWF governing body, meeting every 12-18 months between Assemblies held normally 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.

More information about actions taken at the 2009 LWF Council meeting is available on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/Council/2009/2009-Council_Actions.html.

Lutheran World Information