The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy (ELCI) has a new dean, Rev. Holger Milkau. He was elected in a special ELCI synod session, October 22. Milkau, 43, succeeds Rev. Jürgen Astfalk, who announced his resignation from office in September 2005.
Astfalk’s departure was linked to the limited secondment period that the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) allows its pastors for service abroad. Consequently, the ELCI leadership is currently analyzing a synod request to develop a scheme that would allow pastors from abroad to serve the church for an unlimited period.
Milkau studied theology in Marburg, Hamburg (Germany) and at the Waldesian faculty of theology in Rome (Italy). In 1993 he was ordained as a pastor in Schmalkalden (Germany). He served as a pastor in the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck, as director of theological studies in the Fulda church district, and as regional officer for the church’s adult education services. Since 2002, he has been pastor to a congregation in Naples (Italy).
Following his election, Milkau stressed the special task of a Protestant diaspora church in the Italian context. Wherever the diversity of churches is understood as a gift it can be enjoyed, experienced as enriching, and shared in ecumenical dialogue, he says.
Milkau is married and has two daughters.
The 7,000-member ELCI has been a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member church since 1949. (236 words)
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