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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 30.06.2008 |
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| Global Lutheran Communion Now Has 141 Members |
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New Member Church from the Republic of Congo
ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 30 June 2008 (LWI) – At its meeting in Arusha, northern Tanzania, 25-30 June, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) admitted a new member church, bringing the total number of LWF member churches to 141 spread across 79 countries, comprising around 68.3 million persons.
Upon the recommendation of the Standing Committee for Membership, Council members moved to extend full membership to the 3,115-member Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo (ELCC), raising the total membership in LWF member churches to 68,325,414.
Prior to this new addition, the LWF had 140 member churches in 78 countries, representing 68,322,299 followers.
Started by local preachers, the ELCC was established in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazaville) in 1985, and formally registered with the government in 1991. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon (Eglise évangélique luthérienne du Cameroun – EELC) initially accompanied the Congolese church by training its pastors at the EELC seminary in Meiganga, Cameroon. It joined the Lutheran Communion in Central and West Africa (LUCCWA) in 1990 as an associate member and was admitted to full membership in 2002.
Its initial application for LWF membership in 2002 was postponed, and the church was encouraged to strengthen its leadership and various aspects of ministry. Since then, LUCCWA has accompanied the Congolese church, with the EELC and Church of the Lutheran Brethren in Cameroon providing more direct assistance. The December 2007 LUCCWA General Assembly held in Accra, Ghana, endorsed ELCC’s application for LWF membership.
The main activities and programs of the new LWF member church currently include evangelization and outreach to urban and rural areas, Bible study, Christian education, training seminars for lay persons and Sunday school for children, as well as agricultural income-generating activities. The ELCC joined the National Council of Christian Churches in Congo in 1995.
The chairperson of the Standing Committee for Membership Rev. Claudia Schreiber, Church of Lippe (Lutheran Section), Germany, reported to the Council that the Committee had also been informed that the USA-based Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora made a historic decision on 19 May 2007 in Chicago to merge with its home church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania. The synod of the Lithuanian church will endorse the decision in July 2008 at Taurage, Lithuania. (384 words)
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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
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