Lund, Sweden, 20-27 March 2007
Day 1 - Tuesday 20 March
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Marriage, Family and Sexuality Major Issues
 © LWF/Z. Rakotoniaina |
In a cautionary note, member churches were encouraged to dialogue in an inclusive manner in order to avoid making marriage, family and sexuality church-dividing issues by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko. A task force will present to this year’s Council a report titled “The Proposed Guidelines and Processes for Respectful Dialogue” to help member churches discuss the changing realities of these issues in the world today.
Nearly 500 participants including 105 church leaders from around the world are expected at the LWF events hosted by the Church of Sweden and its Diocese of Lund.
 © LWF/D. Jusaitis |
“Living in Communion in the World Today” is the theme of the LWF Council meeting and its related church leadership consultation and anniversary celebrations.
For Bishop Victoria Cortez Rodríguez, vice president of the LWF’s Latin American and Caribbean region, and head of the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope, being “in communion was our way of sharing our faith although there was a lot of diversity in the Lutheran communion from country to country and from continent to continent.”
 © LWF/D. Jusaitis |
Bishop Christina Odenberg of the Diocese of Lund points to this diversity made visible in the increase in women bishops and presidents since the founding Assembly of the LWF in 1947. She welcomed journalists at the opening press conference on behalf of the Church of Sweden.
Odenberg was appointed Bishop of Lund in June 1997 becoming the first Lutheran woman bishop in Sweden. More...
Click here for audio news from the opening press conference. 
Rejoice and Celebrate Together
"The time in Lund offers us the chance to give thanks, rejoice and celebrate together. It is also a unique opportunity for creative and strategic reflections about our hopes, wishes and visions for our future as a living and life-giving communion, bearing witness to the gospel through our actions in the world.” Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko offers official greetings on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Lutheran World Federation. More...
Welcome Back!
Swedish Bishops Christina Odenberg and Anders Wejryd encourage delegates to look to the present and future challenges and possibilities for the Lutheran communion. Church delegates return to Lund, Sweden where the LWF was founded 60 years ago. More...
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Photographs from the Council meeting can be ordered at LWF-Photo Service.
Click here for further information about the LWF Council.
