October 25, 2009

GENEVA, Switzerland – In a report highlighting changing contexts of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and its respective member churches, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, LWF president, urged the organization's council to make decisions that reflect commitment to "a sustainable and strong LWF going into the future." Hanson is also presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In a wide-ranging report to the council Oct. 23, Hanson noted that, while the LWF had exercised responsible fiduciary leadership despite the global economy and serious changes in the financial resources of member churches, the organization faces greater challenges currently and in the future.

The ELCA is a member of the LWF. In his role as LWF president, Hanson chairs the LWF Council. Current council members were elected at the 2003 LWF Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada, and will complete their work in July 2010 at the LWF Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany.

Citing the ELCA's situation, Hanson said the ELCA is facing a significant decrease in its budget from which support for the LWF comes. "We are experiencing a 30-year trend in decreased membership and giving to support the work of the ELCA beyond its local congregations. Furthermore, we do not know the budgetary implications of our recent decision on human sexuality," he told council members.

The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which met Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis, adopted proposals to change ELCA ministry policies. One change makes it possible for Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. That assembly also adopted by a two-third majority a social statement on human sexuality.

Hanson's report noted important issues on this year's LWF agenda such as the election of the next LWF general secretary, and response to the Renewal Committee report, which outlines proposals for change in the LWF.

The LWF president affirmed his commitment "that when we leave this meeting, we will have clarity and transparency about the recommendations we are making, including a timetable and process for developing the language of proposed changes to governing documents." He stressed the need to be clear about what decisions would be left to future elected council members and LWF staff in Geneva.

Hanson challenged the council to give high priority to a generation of new resources as part of its responsibility. "Too often we have left this (task) to the (LWF) Secretariat or some member churches rather than exercising leadership ourselves," he said. He called for a more specific strategy to raise funds for the LWF Endowment Fund.

Hanson urged member churches to address how discussions and decisions on marriage, family and human sexuality would impact the life, work and unity of the LWF.

He said "rather than making (issues of) marriage, family and human sexuality the cause for distancing ourselves from one another in the LWF, let us resolve to engage in deeper dialogue on the theological and ethical issues raised in our current discussions and decisions by member churches." He pointed out that the LWF task force report on Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality, and the Proposed Guidelines and Processes for Respectful Dialogue, offered helpful insights and suggestions.

Hanson called for a renewed commitment to women in leadership and applauded four member churches that recently voted to ordain women. "We need to give strong leadership as council members affirming and admonishing one another so that gender justice becomes a growing reality throughout the LWF," he said.

He urged sustained engagement as peacemakers and called for renewed resolve to "accompany" churches such as those in the Middle East, where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land seeks an end to Israeli occupation, cessation of violence, and a lasting and just peace.

Hanson's report underscored continued commitment to diaconal work, eco-justice and environmental work, and interfaith engagement.

Information about the Lutheran World Federation is at http://www.lutheranworld.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service
Lutheran World Information provided information for this report.