Lund, Sweden, 20-27 March 2007
Day 8 - Tuesday 27 March
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LWF General Secretary Noko Envisages
Eucharistic Sharing in 60 Years
 LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko. © LWF/D. Jusaitis |
The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, (LWF) Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, says he is convinced the current ecumenical relations will lead to concrete visible signs of church unity in the future, including eucharistic sharing.
Addressing the closing press conference of the 20-27 March meeting of the LWF Council in Lund, Sweden, Noko said one would not have envisioned the current LWF communion of churches 60 years ago when the Federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund. The agenda dwelt on the place of the Lutheran church in the world then, after the end of World War II. Today, the focus is on the place of the LWF in the ecumenical movement, something that was not envisaged in 1947, he said, in response to a question about his vision for the LWF in the next six decades.
 Swedish Archbishop Anders Wejryd. © LWF/D. Jusaitis |
The LWF general secretary and Church of Sweden Archbishop Anders Wejryd addressed the joint press conference at the end of the Council meeting. This year’s meeting included a Church Leadership Consultation and other events to celebrate the LWF’s 60th anniversary in the city where the Federation was founded in 1947. Some 500 people including over 100 church leaders attended the events, hosted by the Swedish church, and its Diocese of Lund.
On the controversial debate on marriage, family and sexuality, Wejyrd said this was not an issue that should divide the Lutheran communion. He noted issues of cultural ethics, fidelity, moral responsibility and social identity have always been a challenge for the church. But, he emphasized, the unity of the church depends on agreement on the teaching of the gospel and the administration of sacraments. More...
LWF Affirms Historic Statement on
Episcopal Ministry
 Plenary session © LWF/J. Elfstroem |
After eight years of preparation, the LWF Council adopted a historic statement on the episcopal ministry. The full title of the statement is Episcopal Ministry within the Apostolicity of the Church – The Lund Statement by the Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches. It has been developed as a clarification of how the Lutheran churches understand the character and purpose of the ministry of oversight in the church, paying particular attention to how this ministry serves the church’s apostolicity—its continuity with Christ and the apostles. More...
Please click to download the full text of the statement in English, French, German or Spanish. This document is also available in Portuguese. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
LWF Youth Message Underlines Lutheran Contribution to Ecumenical Movement
 In a symbolic act, the youth participants collect water from all parts of the LWF communion during the Council’s closing service. © LWF/D. Jusaitis |
Young adult representatives from the LWF member churches have urged the LWF to stand firm as a communion, and not be divided by the different opinions held on the subject of marriage, family and sexuality.
The young adults’ appeal to the Lutheran communion was part of a message delivered on 26 March to the LWF Council after their 16-19 March Pre-Council Youth workshop in Höör, south Sweden. During their four-day meeting, the 23 young people from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America discussed a report on the evaluation of the LWF Youth in Church and Society (YICAS) desk and its strategic plan to empower young people to meaningful participation in the LWF and local churches. More...
Please click for the Message from the 2007 Pre-Council Youth Workshop. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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