January 21, 2010

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Wittenberg (Germany) Center will move its offices to another location in the German city and employ a part-time coordinator who will also represent the ELCA in the observance of the "Luther Decade."

The future viability of the center was in doubt this past October when it was announced that the center's two directors, the Rev. Stephen E. and Dr. Jean Godsall-Myers, would end their service at the center Nov. 30, 2009. The decision was the result of "harsh budget realities," said the Rev. Robert O. Smith, continental desk director for Europe and the Middle East, ELCA Global Mission.

A proposal for the center's future was accepted by an advisory committee for the center. The Rev. Scott A. Moore has been named the center's coordinator and ELCA Luther Decade representative. Moore, an ELCA pastor, recently completed a six-year call with ELCA Global Mission when he served as pastor of a Lutheran congregation in Lutherstadt Eisleben, Germany. He will soon begin doctoral studies in Germany.

"I'm very excited to be in this place at this time. It's something I'm eager to do," said Moore in a phone interview with the ELCA News Service. "It's extremely important for our German partners that we have a presence there among them in these historic Luther sites, especially in Wittenberg."

Moore, who lives in nearby Ehrfurt, will serve 10 hours per week at the center and visit Wittenberg at least every two weeks. Among his duties he will facilitate relationships with German church partners and institutions in Wittenberg, promote the center, maintain donor relationships, assist and coordinate activities for visiting groups, and engage in strategic planning.

"It's good to have an (ELCA) presence in Germany in this decade as we have the opportunity to reflect for ourselves about our heritage and our future," Moore added.

The Luther Decade, launched in Wittenberg in 2008, is a significant component of the Wittenberg Center's mission. The decade includes a series of events and observances leading to 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, joined German church leaders at the Luther Decade's launch.

German church partners are pleased the ELCA will be able to maintain its Wittenberg Center, said the Rev. Arden D. Haug, Bratislava, Slovakia, regional representative for Europe, ELCA Global Mission. "They recognize this is different than having two full-time people there," he said in an interview. "They greatly appreciated what Steve and Jean brought here. Scott has a great understanding of the context. German church partners and companions, and the mayor of Wittenberg, are pleased this is going to happen. Nobody wanted to see the ELCA Wittenberg Center closed."

The new plan calls for the Wittenberg Center to move into a newly renovated space at Colleg (correct) Wittenberg, a facility primarily for study-abroad programs of North American college and universities. Colleg Wittenberg has guest rooms and space for group seminars.

Haug added that the ELCA churchwide organization will be working to connect the center with other expressions of the church, including congregations, colleges and universities, and seminaries.

Renate Skirl, administrative assistant for the Wittenberg Center, will end her service on April 1 and join Christian Tours, Europe, Smith wrote in the Wittenberg Center proposal. Christian Tours will provide a separate entrance and sign for the ELCA Wittenberg Center, and will maintain various ELCA resources at the center, he wrote. "As ELCA groups utilize the Colleg Wittenberg and the services of Christian Tours, they will have full access to these resources," Smith wrote.

The 10-year-old Wittenberg Center is a unique ministry located in the city where Martin Luther, a German monk, nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in 1517. His writings were instrumental in the Protestant Reformation.

During its first decade, the center and its staff provided educational programs, including study programs for college students, continuing education and sabbatical opportunities for professional church leaders, and assisted visiting Christian groups.

Information about the ELCA Wittenberg Center is at http://archive.ELCA.org/wittenberg/, on the ELCA Web site.

Information about Colleg Wittenberg is at http://www.collegwittenberg.com/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service