14.06.2005
LWF General Secretary Congratulates Newly Elected CEC Leader
Anglican Archdeacon Colin Williams Succeeds Keith Clements December 2005GENEVA, 14 June 2005 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, has congratulated Anglican Archdeacon of Lancaster, Colin Williams, on his recent election as General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
The CEC Central Committee elected Williams on June 6 at its meeting in Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece. The incumbent, Rev. Dr Keith Clements, will retire at the end of November 2005 after eight years of service. Williams will assume his tenure in December 2005.
In a congratulatory letter to Williams, Noko highlights the shared ecumenical concerns of the LWF and CEC, expressing confidence that "we shall develop the same good and close rapport" as that experienced with Clements.
Noko draws attention to the different ecumenical relations that some LWF member churches have developed with churches from different Christian traditions on the continent. Among the 43 LWF member churches in Europe some are bilaterally in communion with Anglican churches, and with Reformed churches, and multilaterally in communion with Anglican and Reformed churches. Others are in communion bilaterally with Methodist churches in the region, or through the Leuenberg Agreement. "The experience you will build on as you assume your responsibilities has connected you directly with some of the main ecumenical developments, prospects and challenges related to Anglican - Lutheran - Reformed relations in Europe," Noko writes.
The LWF general secretary highlights the international dialogues in which the LWF is engaged as a Christian World Communion. He affirms the Lutheran communion's strong commitment to relations that seek church communion also with the Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Church. Equally important, he adds, are relations with the Jewish people, and people of other faiths. He says he hopes these relations could be a contribution "also in the years to come to a harmonious development of Europe at the religious level."
On social concerns, Noko mentions the need for both the LWF and CEC to keep "prominently" on their agendas the challenges of economic globalization. "Your dedication to a Europe which is open, compassionate, just and in touch with its spiritual heritage will echo very well in the environment of which you will be a part here in Geneva," he notes.
Founded in 1959, the CEC is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 organizations with which it is associated. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it has offices in Brussels, Belgium and Strasbourg, France. (423 words)
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