27.06.2008
Festive Opening of LWF Council in Arusha, Tanzania
Tanzanian Bishop Laiser: "We must be the light and salt of the earth"ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 27 June 2008 (LWI) - A festive worship service marked the opening of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council meeting on 25 June in Arusha, Tanzania. In his sermon, Tanzanian Bishop Thomas O. Laiser called upon the Lutheran communion to be the salt and light of the earth. Laiser, from the Arusha diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) said it was the urgent obligation of all human beings to take responsibility for the environment.
Around 170 participants are attending the 25-30 June Council meeting hosted by the ELCT in Arusha. Its theme is "Melting Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro-A Witness of a Suffering Creation."
During the opening worship service a large painting of the Kilimanjaro on the altar crucifix of the Arusha Town Lutheran Church illustrated the meeting's theme. Bishop Laiser remarked, "It has been noted and observed in recent years with concern that snow on this highest mountain in Africa is melting away at a speed never seen before, as a result of the destruction of the environment."
Deforestation and the disappearance of wildlife, climate change and global warming are all visible consequences of the destruction of the environment, resulting also in the melting of the snows of the Kilimanjaro, Laiser explained.
In his sermon on Mt 5: 13-15, Laiser highlighted the significance for the wellbeing and conduct of all human beings of the central themes of the Scripture text: "Commonly these little attributes [of] light and salt are items that we cannot do without." These words of Scripture also remind "each one of us of the importance and necessity of becoming salt and light to the whole world," for the protection of nature.
Referring to the Council theme, the Arusha bishop noted all humanity shared a common responsibility to preserve creation. "That is why Jesus told his disciples to become the light and the salt to the world, to show the path when it is dark, and to make the world of their time safe from any type of destruction which may come their way."
Laiser, said he comes from the East African Maasai ethnic group which, since time immemorial, has lived in harmony with nature, and insisted that every Christian man and woman was a herald of the gospel, called to commit themselves to the preservation of creation: "It is an undeniable fact that if men and women young and old, join hands together to witness for Christ we will become a strong Gospel force for the whole of creation."
In his sermon, Laiser recalled that in 2004 the ELCT took a position on the question of human sexuality (The Bukoba Statement at: www.elct.or.tz/home.html). For the ELCT, homosexuality is an issue that is "not even discussable, and therefore it is not acceptable." This does not mean that there are no homosexual men or women in Africa or in Tanzania, the bishop said. He stated the church's opposition to attempts to officialize homosexuality in the church under the guise of human rights.
Addressing the current situation in African countries, Bishop Laiser, pointed to the plight of victims of the tragic incidents and human rights violations in Darfur, Somalia and Zimbabwe who "are eagerly waiting for the prophetic voice of the Lutheran world family." In these places of suffering "the presence of our light and our salt must be felt," he said.
Greeting worshippers, LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson reminded those attending the opening service of the adoption of the document "Proposed Guidelines and Processes for Respectful Dialogue on Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality" by the LWF Council in 2007 at its meeting in Lund, Sweden. Questions related to human sexuality should not be a source of division within the global Lutheran family, Hanson emphasized. He cited the issue of polygamy with which the Lutheran church in Africa was confronted. He said his visits to Lutheran churches in Kenya and Tanzania prior to the Council had given him the opportunity to witness first-hand the challenges these churches were facing in this regard. "God gives gifts of unity in Christ, but also gives diversity," said the LWF president. "Let us be in unity through the gospel, the good news we have received. It is my prayer that the Lutherans will realize that their unity is based on the gospel."
Hanson expressed his gratitude for the ELCT's invitation to host the meeting in Arusha and for the warm hospitality shown to participants. "The 'karibu' ['welcome' in Kiswahili] is felt deeply by us." Thanks to the fellowship with the ELCT, the LWF has learned a lot, Hanson said, "for you and so many churches in the South are teaching us Lutherans what it means to be an evangelizing church proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. You are reminding us that being Lutheran is not only being evangelical but being visional. Its vision is holistic."
Music for the opening service was provided by four choirs from the Arusha diocese, performing works related to the theme of this year's Council meeting. (856 words)
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There are around 170 participants in this year's Council meeting including church leaders, officials from LWF partner organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators, LWF staff and co-opted staff and accredited media.
The Council is the LWF's governing body meeting between Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other members include advisors, lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF regions.
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