03.05.2004
German Lutheran Church Body Favors Closer Cooperation with EKD
VELKD Extraordinary Synod Stresses Need for Efficient StructuresHANOVER, Germany/GENEVA, 3 May 2004 (LWI) - The general synod of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) has decided in favor of closer cooperation between the VELKD and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).
The relationship between the VELKD as a “fellowship of churches of the same confession” and EKD as a “fellowship of Protestant churches of different confessions” should be structured in such a way as to facilitate the implementation of the mission of the Church. The goal should be “to strengthen the voice of Protestantism in Germany and Lutheran identity within it,” VELKD synod members said in a resolution after an extraordinary session of the governing body April 3 in Hanover, Germany.
According to the resolution, a basic condition for reaching a contractual agreement on cooperation between both bodies would be that the VELKD can continue to function as a church in both the theological and legal sense.
The relationship of the respective responsibilities and competences of each body as determined in the foundational documents of the VELKD and EKD, is to be clearly defined in a contract which would serve as a constitutional document. “The synodical principle must continue to be preserved and effective in the VELKD and EKD,” the synod stated in its resolution.
During the forthcoming negotiations on such a contract, attention should be paid to creating structures that would guarantee that the United Church can exercise its responsibilities as mandated in its constitution. As many tasks as possible should be undertaken jointly and distinctions made only where necessary according to the respective understanding of each fellowship. In their resolution, synod members stressed the need for negotiations that focus on efficient management structures.
It was noted that the VELKD has developed a strong sense of community based on the members’ shared confession. This had been particularly expressed in its theological work, in the realm of church order and church life, in legal matters and in ecumenical work. The synod resolution stressed that the common ties between the VELKD member churches be maintained and encouraged. For the VELKD and its member churches, mutual belonging within the worldwide Lutheran family was an important component of their participation in global ecumenism and could not be given up. The VELKD intends to maintain and pursue its own ecumenical relations and to continue to conduct bilateral and multi-lateral dialogues and doctrinal conversations.
The general synod requested the church authorities, “taking account of the principles mentioned above,” to enter into negotiations with the EKD, and to report on their progress at the next ordinary meeting of the VELKD general synod, 16-20 October 2004 in Gera, Germany.
At the conclusion of the extraordinary meeting of the general synod, VELKD appointed a four-person commission to begin negotiations with the EKD on structural questions. Members of the group include VELKD Presiding Bishop Dr Hans Christian Knuth (Schleswig), Catholic affairs officer, Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich (Munich), and two lawyers, Oberlandeskirchenrätin Dr Karla Sichelschmidt (Wolfenbüttel) and church office president, Hans-Dieter Hofmann, (Dresden).
The VELKD is an association of eight regional Lutheran churches in Bavaria, Brunswick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, North Elbia, Saxony, Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia. It represents about 10.4 million Lutherans. The EKD brings together 24 Lutheran, Reformed and United regional churches in Germany. (567 words)
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