Archbishop emeritus Jaan Kiivit Jr of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELK) died August 31, aged 65, during an official visit to St Petersburg, Russia.
In a letter of condolence to the Estonian church, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko says Kiivit was a faithful representative of his own church and of the churches of the LWF region of Central Eastern Europe. "His voice was always greatly respected among sisters and brothers within the global Lutheran family," Noko notes.
Kiivit, son of former EELK Archbishop Jaan Kiivit Sr, was ordained in 1966. He served nearly 30 years as pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost in Tallinn. He became archbishop in 1994 until his retirement last February. Prior to election as head of the Estonian church, he served as a member of the consistory. He also taught practical theology at the theological institute in Tallinn.
Archbishop Kiivit Jr was a member of the LWF Council from 1997 until 2003, and served on the then Standing Committee for Ecumenical Affairs.
The 200,000-member EELK joined the LWF in 1963. Archbishop Andres Poder heads the church since last February. (198 words)
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