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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 06.02.2003 |
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| Women Call for Written Balloting, Youth Commit to Concrete Social Action |
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North American Vision for LWF Tenth Assembly
DENVER, Colorado, United States of America/GENEVA, 6 February 2003 (LWI) - Women and youth of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) North America region have met in separate consultations and laid out a series of social and political concerns, and strategies to address them, in preparation for the LWF Tenth Assembly. The Assembly will be held July 21-31 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
A group of 38 women met for the North American Women's Consultation, January 22-23, prior to the January 23-26 LWF North American Pre-Assembly Consultation. The women included members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad (LELCA) [based in Germany] and Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora.
In a written report to the Pre-Assembly Consultation, among many action strategies, the North American women particularly urged "that the LWF adopt the procedure of written balloting at all assemblies." The suggestion for LWF Assembly voting procedures resulted in discussion by all the Pre-Assembly Consultation delegates. They agreed by consensus to seek an amendment in the Assembly rules. North American delegates will ask that voting on LWF "public statements"—which require a two-thirds vote for approval—be done by written ballot, said Rev. Susan Tjornehoj from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, ELCA delegate to the LWF Assembly. "She also explained that at the Assembly, the North American delegates hope to propose that LWF voting policies be reviewed.
The women further expressed concern, and suggested strategies, for issues related to: nationalism and civil religion; affluence and economic globalization; race, gender and sexuality; and HIV/AIDS. For healing, they pledged to acknowledge and confess their fallen humanity, denounce idolatries and pray for forgiveness; reaffirm their baptismal calling to strive for justice and peace throughout the earth; and work "cooperatively and collectively" with people of faith and others to bring about peace, justice, reconciliation, protection of human rights and healing to the world.
Action also was pledged to increase advocacy to end world hunger, provide education and training against racism and "internalized oppression," advocate for "generous" funding from the US and Canadian governments for HIV/AIDS treatment and research, and challenge pharmaceutical companies to lower costs.
North American Youth Consultation
The 12 Lutheran youth, aged under 30 years, who met for the North American Youth Consultation, held January 18-21, included members of the ELCIC, ELCA, and LELCA. They considered issues pertinent to young people in North America. Through prayer and conversation, "we found that the problems of individual and systematic violence are of primary concern to many young adults of North America," they wrote in their report to the Pre-Assembly Consultation. "We have agreed to support each other and work together to oppose this violence in our places of ministry."
Presenting the report to the Pre-Assembly Consultation were Lindsay Mack, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and Jakob Rinderknecht, Chelan, Washington, USA. Both are ELCA delegates to the LWF Assembly. They said violence and the concept that war is "an acceptable political tool" were systems that contradict the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They identified economic globalization, exclusion, poverty, and portrayals of sexuality and body image as "subtle forms of violence wrapped in our lives."
The youth called for a coordinator of young adult ministries for Lutherans in North America, education and information sharing, working to move people toward expedient solutions to social problems, reforming the "culture of violence," equipping young adults for action, and prayer. They also committed to: political advocacy for the "voiceless" and "unheard"; daily prayer for peace and reconciliation; buying less and buying responsibly; educating themselves about global systems; sharing what they learn; working toward a North American young adult gathering; creating community, and each corresponding with one LWF youth liaison from the Southern Hemisphere.
LWF staff and advisers from the LWF member churches joined the consultation for women, and the consultation for youth.
Information about the LWF Tenth Assembly can be found at www.lwf-assembly.org the LWF Assembly Web site.
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