|
|
|
The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
|
| 30.06.2008 |
|
| LWF Renewal Committee Report Outlines Theological and Governance Implications |
| |
Bishop Raymond Schultz Presents Committee Report
ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 30 June 2008 (LWI) – The Renewal Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) presented its second draft report to the LWF Council meeting 25-30 June in Arusha, Tanzania, which summarizes proposals for LWF’s renewal.
Presenting the draft report to the Council on 26 June, committee chairperson Bishop Raymond Schultz, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, explained the renewal process aims to develop ways to organize the common life and work of the Lutheran communion so that all churches and related organizations of mission and diakonia take responsibility for these functions.
The draft report is subdivided into three sections elaborating the theological foundation; governance principles and secretariat management. It includes a summary of responses to a series of questions inviting reflection and response from the LWF member churches and related organizations.
Relationships
The questions seek to define the basis of the fellowship that holds the Lutheran communion together; relations to each other including respect for differences and the sharing of needs and joys; how to overcome conflicts, avoid discrimination, and resist isolation and splintering; and whether its members could depend on the stability and permanence of the Lutheran fellowship.
Appointed by the Council, the committee held its first meeting in January 2007 with a first report to the Council in March 2007. The second meeting in August 2007 focused on preparation of a draft report with preliminary proposals for LWF’s renewal, which was sent to member churches and related organizations in January 2008, with early April as the deadline for response.
The third meeting in April 2008 reviewed the responses received—from 13 member churches, two agencies and one national committee (LWF National Committee in Germany comprising 13 member churches); and the Nordic region, also representing a large constituency. Schultz noted in his report that “the committee was somewhat disappointed over the comparatively small number of responses received.”
The committee chairperson said the responses were assessed in three categories: general consensus; general disagreement and questions to be addressed. Areas of general disagreement included change of name for the communion and its secretariat; change of personnel titles; and the secretariat’s relocation. Where there was general consensus, the committee felt confident to make recommendations as posed in the draft report while it took no action where there was general disagreement or a wide divergence of opinion.
Structures
The draft report outlines fundamental assumptions and issues related to the nature of the LWF as a communion including the LWF Constitution and its actualization; and the ecclesial aspects of the Assembly and Council. It outlines a vision for the LWF Assembly and the Council; the role and composition of the Executive Committee, its officers—President, Treasurer and Vice-President—and of the General Secretary. The report concludes with indications of the way forward.
Bishop Schultz defined the church as “an event that occurs in the presence of the spoken and visible words of Gospel proclamation and sacramental celebration.” He said the committee proposes structural relationships that would arise out of communion rather than some “free-standing organizational model, be it secular or ecclesiastical; given that structures were “not prescribed in Lutheran self-understanding.”
The report recommends a smaller number of Council members but notes further consultation would be required before an equitable distribution can be established. In order to cut down costs the report proposes the introduction of a meeting of officers as subcommittee of Council; creation of single committee on projects and programs; the merging of theology and ecumenical affairs and less administrative work for the President.
It proposes that the Secretariat be the public face of the communion, and also proposes changes to the current secretariat structure. These include major changes in the administration of the Departments for World Service (DWS) and Mission and Development (DMD) with the goal to provide effective partnership in mission and development work; bringing together theology, ecumenical affairs and ecumenical research work; and combining global public themes and issues.
While the committee had not addressed the financial implications for a future LWF, it intends to recommend a sustainable and financially affordable organization, Schultz reported. The committee expects to hold its next meetings in January and August 2009, and present a final report to be submitted to the Council at its October 2009 meeting.
The Council asked the Renewal Committee to receive recommendations on the renewal process submitted by the seven program committees. It requested the committee “to take seriously into account all comments and recommendations” as its members continue the work on the renewal process.
The program committees’ comments included among others, concern for the active and meaningful participation of LWF member churches in the renewal process; and the need for theological and ecumenical work to operate in cooperative and complementary ways.
Concern was also raised about the necessity to keep a strong global humanitarian and development arm of the communion and for close and complementary cooperation in diakonia between DWS, DMD and the member churches. Integration was proposed of program and project-related communication activities with communication services in view of a more holistic approach to communication. (850 words)
* * *
Around 170 participants attended 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.
LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69
Fax: +41/22-791 66 30
Editor’s E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
Media contact in Arusha: +255 782 321 852
|
If you want to edit this article yourself and adapt it to a given format, follow our editing information
|
|
|
|
|
|
