November 18, 2011

BUDAPEST, Hungary/GENEVA – The special committee mandated to guide The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in preparing observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 identified leadership formation, the central role of worship and emerging communications as some of the issues needing urgent attention.

At its inaugural meeting in the Hungarian capital, 14-15 November, the "Luther 2017: 500 Years of Reformation" committee underlined the use of new information technology – "from Gutenberg to Google" – as crucial especially in engaging young people in the different activities planned by LWF member churches throughout the world.

The committee comprises nine members from all seven LWF regions, and includes two youth members.

Reviewing the summary of plans already underway in member churches and theological institutions, the committee affirmed the wide range of activities and noted that these ideas would help to inspire others to their own creative planning in their contexts. A noted Hungarian animator Zsolt Richly introduced his project on the life and witness of Martin Luther; the hope is to make this available also in other languages.

The committee noted that each centenary anniversary had been distinctively shaped by its own time. It reflected on the marks already identified in planning 2017: to attend to the Reformation movement as a global citizen; to be ecumenically engaged and accountable; and to look forward to ways in which churches of the Reformation are still "in reformation."

The committee affirmed that the LWF Twelfth Assembly in 2017 would be the primary focus for international recognition of the anniversary year. On 31 October itself, multiple observances would occur in congregations and local settings around the world. It emphasized the important role of the Communion Office (CO) in providing support for worship resources.

The committee asked the CO to continue expanding and updating the summary of local and regional activities, and also to make such information accessible on the LWF Web site. It also asked the General Secretary to confer with a range of ecumenical partners about the meaning of 2017 in their own self-understandings and to make recommendations for ways they could collaborate in planning for 2017.

The committee will continue its work electronically, and will meet again in 2013 to prepare its report to the LWF Council meeting in June that year.

Members of the committee include Rev. Dr Walter Altmann (Brazil), chairperson; Ms Colleen E. Cunningham (South Africa); Bishop Dr Tamás Fabiny (Hungary); Rev. Dr Cristina Grenholm (Sweden); Mr Warime Guti (Papua New Guinea); National Bishop Susan C. Johnson (Canada); Ms Mikka McCracken (USA); Rev. Dr Bernd Oberdorfer (Germany); and former Bishop Nicholas Tai (Hong Kong, China).

In addition, Bishop emeritus Eero Huovinen from Finland, Lutheran co-chair of the Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity, attended in order to present the commission's draft text calling for "common commemoration" of 2017.

Lutheran World Information