ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 8, 2003 LWF Post-Assembly Visits Affected By Visa Denials 03-155-JAC* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Post-assembly visits were hindered after the Canadian and United States governments declined to issue visas to some 50 participants of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, July 21-31. The post-assembly visits, extensions of the LWF assembly, were to take place in 22 sites in the United States and Caribbean with 107 international participants, according to Kathy Magnus, North America regional officer for the LWF. There were only 55 registered participants destined for 21 sites as of July 25, Magnus said. The denial of visas to 50 assembly participants was the subject of considerable discussion and concern at the Winnipeg assembly. "The one event that was totally cancelled was the Northwestern Minnesota Synod event," Magnus said. She said that of the six international guests scheduled for that event, all were denied visas. Another event in Wisconsin was sharply downsized after only one of the five international participants received a visa, Magnus said. Magnus said she had no idea why visas were denied to some LWF participants, but she did say that all of the participants who were denied visas are from Asia and Africa. Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, who addressed the LWF assembly July 23, said in an interview that the Canadian government was exploring the visa problems. "We're going to follow this up with the federal government and the group here to make sure that whatever went wrong won't go wrong again," Doer said. Of the LWF participants who had registered to attend the post-assembly visits, 35 people were unable to obtain Canadian visas, Magnus said. Another 14 participants had received Canadian visas but were unable to obtain U.S. visas, primarily because the visas had not been requested with enough advance notice and because there is no consulate in Winnipeg, she said. Though the post-assembly visits had setbacks, Magnus said participants attending the visits are enjoying their experiences. One international guest from Tanzania, Ipyana Mwamugobole, said in an e-mail message to Magnus that he was enjoying his experiences with the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, based in Oakland, Calif. "I'm learning a lot about people, church and church activities," Mwamugobole said. "I'm learning about how people can think about others outside their world." Magnus said she expects to receive further positive feedback as the events progress. "We'll hope that the results will be great," she said. LWF is a global communion of 136 churches in 76 countries and represents almost 62 million Lutherans. The LWF provides leadership training, theological education, medical care and human rights advocacy. The LWF assembly is held every six or seven years. *Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news