ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 27, 2009
LWF General Secretary-Elect Names Priorities to Strengthen LWF Communion
09-239-JB/LWI*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Enhancing the quality of relationships among
churches in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and embarking on a
participatory planning process to ensure the organization's
sustainability are priorities for the organization's general secretary
elect, the Rev. Martin Junge.
The LWF is 140 churches in the Lutheran tradition in 79 countries,
representing 68.5 million Christians.
The 49-member LWF governing council elected the Chilean theologian
Oct. 26 at its meeting near Geneva, Switzerland. Junge received 37 votes
in favor and five against in the election for which a search committee
had proposed him as the sole candidate for election. Other nominees
included the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) and Robert Granke, both of whom were present.
Malpica Padilla is executive director, ELCA Global Mission. Granke
is executive director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and LWF president,
said, "Our clear vote is a strong, strong statement of our confidence in
Martin Junge." Hanson chairs the LWF council and announced Junge's
election.
Junge said he accepted with humility the privilege to serve the
Lutheran communion in his new position and urged support and prayers in
carrying the burdens and challenges that the task entailed. He called for
the support for the outgoing general secretary, the Rev. Ishmael Noko,
and expressed his conviction that "we will manage to organize a perfect
transition period as this communion deserves it."
Congratulating his incoming successor, Noko assured Junge of his
cooperation and prayers in the transition, saying, "God's grace is
plenty, this is your daily bread, to depend on God." He promised to
arrange in dignity and respect "the way we should hand over the work of
the LWF." Noko leaves office at the end of October 2010.
Hanson expressed his commitment to facilitate this transition in the
best way possible. He declared that the long election process, which was
to be completed Oct. 22, "did not say anything about the quality of the
candidate but it was because of the difficulties in the procedure." He
said he took personal responsibility that the June 2008 Council meeting
in Arusha, Tanzania, had not given clear guidelines for the search
committee process.
Junge explained that focusing on institutional development of the
LWF was necessary to enhance democracy in decision-making and
implementation, promote effectiveness and efficiency, and integrate
innovation for sustainability in the future.
"We all know how difficult changes are, particularly for an
organization as big and diverse and with as many stakeholders and
interests as ours. Yet, without changes, without innovation, no
organization can survive in the long term. This is why plans need to be
developed, so that those changes that the gift of communion requires
today and tomorrow, can actually take place," said Junge in his
acceptance speech.
The general secretary conducts the business of the LWF in
collaboration with the cabinet, made up of the directors of departments
and units appointed by the council. The position holder is responsible
for the implementation of the Council and LWF Assembly decisions. The
next assembly is in July 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany.
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Information on the 2009 LWF Council meeting is available at
http://www.lutheranworld.org on Web.
* Lutheran World Information provided information for this report.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
