ELCA NEWS SERVICE
February 24, 2006
Lutheran World Federation Welcomes Common Christian Assembly
06-028-FI/SB*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) welcomed an invitation from the World Council of Churches
(WCC) to consider entering into plans with other Christian world
communions for a common assembly in the next decade. The Rev.
Mark S. Hanson, LWF president and presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Rev.
Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary, were in Porto Alegre,
Brazil, for the WCC Ninth Assembly, Feb. 14-23.
The Rev. Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary, proposed Feb.
15 that the next WCC assembly provide a common platform for the
wider ecumenical movement. He mentioned specifically the
involvement of the LWF and the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches.
"We could envisage together, instead of the many different
global assemblies and general conferences organized by the
various world communions and other bodies, just one celebration
of the search for unity and common witness of Christian
churches," Kobia said.
Hanson said, "One of the tensions in the global ecumenical
movement today concerns the role of the Christian world
communions and confessional bodies, and (whether) they are
finally contributing toward the greater unity of the church or
taking energy away from the ecumenical movement."
"Being Lutheran is to be ecumenical. I can't read the
Augsburg Confession without thinking that this was a proposal for
the unity of the church, at least the Western church at that
time," said Hanson. The Augsburg Confession is a foundational
document of the Lutheran Church.
Hanson stressed the need to rethink constantly "the function
of these assemblies, in our life together, and in our witnessing
in the world." He wondered whether the focus on ecumenism or
Lutheran identity through the current assembly rhythm of six to
seven years was the most effective way to tend to "our
relationship together" or to "our witness in our work for deeper
unity in the body of Christ."
Planning such assemblies would call for "careful talks" and
openness to addressing "complicated questions" in order to ensure
the contribution of all the Christian traditions represented in
the Christian world communions and the WCC, Hanson said, asking
particularly that the involvement of the world Orthodox community
be considered.
Noko said, "Holding assemblies within the space of WCC
assemblies would neither lead to the dissolution of the LWF nor
the Christian world communions' assemblies, but would strengthen
the ecumenical commitment of the participating communions and
build theological and ecclesial bridges nurtured by the Holy
Spirit."
The issue of coordinated assemblies under the WCC has been
on the agenda of LWF governing bodies for several years. "The
LWF Council in September 2005 decided to explore seriously the
possible coordination of the meetings of governing bodies of the
WCC and Christian world communions," Noko said.
The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. It has 140 member churches in 78 countries
all over the world, with a total membership of 66.2 million.
The ELCA is a member of the LWF and the WCC, both based in
Geneva, Switzerland. The WCC includes more than 340 churches,
denominations and church fellowships in more than 100 countries
and territories throughout the world, representing some 550
million Christians.
* Susanne Buchweitz, based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, reported for
Lutheran World Information, the LWF's information service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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