LWF Council Meeting 2004
Geneva, Switzerland, 1-7 September 2004
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Members of the LWF Council vote on recommendations of the LWF Program Committees. © LWF/H. Putsman |
LWF Council Affirms Role of Global Network of Churches and Agencies
The Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has affirmed the important role of Action by Churches Together (ACT) in responding ecumenically to global emergencies, and confirmed that the LWF shall maintain collective membership with regard to ACT. The LWF is a founding member of the Geneva-based ACT, a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies.
Rev. Marie J. Barnett from Sierra Leone, chairperson of the Program Committee for World Service. |
Acting on recommendations presented by the Program Committee for World Service, the Council at its September 1-7 meeting near Geneva, confirmed the principles and procedures that would form the basis of LWF input into discussions concerning modifications related to the ACT statutes and procedures related to membership. The Council underlined that the Act International statutes (Article 5) should include a definition of "founding members" and an elaboration of the understanding of collective membership. It further confirmed that those outside of the LWF membership (and World Council of Churches [WCC] - ACT co-founder) shall apply for membership directly to ACT. More...
Council Receives LWF Mission Document
At its September meeting, the Council received the LWF mission document "Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment: An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission," with the provision that reactions to the statement and additional input be incorporated wherever possible.
Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, chairperson of the Program Committee for Mission and Development. © LWF/H. Putsman |
The Council also requested the Program Committee for Mission and Development to designate three of its members to provide editorial approval prior to the document's publication.
The purpose of the paper is to stimulate self-analysis and reaffirmation of mission in context among churches and related bodies. The foundations in question are, among others, the understanding of mission as participation in the Missio Dei, as holistic - encompassing proclamation, service and advocacy for justice - and as praxis pointing to the reality of God's reign in Christ. The document also builds practice of mission on the missiological understanding that mission is of the being of the church and belongs to the whole church. More...
Theology Increasingly Sidelined in Many Churches
At its meeting near Geneva, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) was informed of a new study program, "Theology in the Life of the Church: Revisiting its Critical Role" to be launched by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) jointly with the Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg, France.
Chairperson of the Program Committee for Theology and Studies, Rev. Dr Barbara Rossing (ELCA). |
The objective of the new study program is to develop a greater awareness and appreciation of the critical role of theology in the LWF and member churches, especially among pastors and other church leaders, the Program Committee for Theology and Studies chairperson, Rev. Dr Barbara Rossing, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) explained in the committee's report to the Council. Also the program aims to strengthen the connection between theology and the actual life of churches. The program also focuses on modeling theological work that has rigor and integrity both with regard to the tradition as well as with current contexts, and that could meet emerging ecumenical, interfaith and other challenges.
The committee explained several issues that form the background of the study program. Although the importance of theology for church life and for the furthering of church unity has been continuously reiterated, there were disturbing challenges to the attention and resources that used to be devoted to theological and related ecumenical work including in the LWF and member churches. In many churches, theology was increasingly sidelined with attention focussed instead on what would work, was practical or popular. Although considerable ecumenism was being lived out through practical cooperation among churches, there was a sense of less enthusiasm for ecumenical discussion of doctrinal matters. More.
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