LWF President Younan Speaks at Conference on Christians in the Middle East

BEIRUT/Lebanon/GENEVA, 24 May 2013 (LWI) – “We do not live in the mentality of the ghetto, nor in the mentality of a minority complex, nor do we live as dhimmi (dependent) people,” said Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan. “We have always been, as Arab Christians, building our societies, loyal to our countries and nationalities, bringing hope in hopeless situations.”

Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), was speaking at a joint World Council of Churches (WCC) and Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) conference on the Christian presence and witness in the Middle East, on 22 May in Beirut, Lebanon.

GENEVA, 23 May 2013 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has expressed heartfelt condolences and prayers to the people of Oklahoma, following the tragic loss of life in the wake of devastating tornados across central United States.

“We pray particularly for those families, relatives, and friends who are in pain because of the loss of loved ones,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge wrote in a 22 May letter to Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

LWF Partners in Central America Say Public Debt Leads to Structural Violence

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras/GENEVA, 21 May 2013 (LWI) – The Social Forum on the External Debt of Honduras (FOSDEH) and other non-governmental organizations in the Central American country say Honduras is on the brink of ruin. It cannot pay government employees, contractors or suppliers. Construction unions owed more than USD 100 million by the State are demanding payment. Teachers can go up to six months without salaries. Road construction has stopped and the government health provider is threatening to dismiss employees.

Concerned about the situation in Honduras, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (DWS) program in Central America and its partner FOSDEH jointly hosted a forum in mid-April on “Public Debt and Structural Violence.”

LWF Lauds Norwegian Bishop Emeritus Stålsett for Niwano Peace Prize

GENEVA, 16 May 2013 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has lauded the “extraordinary ministry and witness” of Bishop Emeritus of Oslo Dr Gunnar Stålsett, as he received the Niwano Peace Prize in Tokyo today, 16 May.

“Throughout your ministry, you have looked for opportunities to witness at the intersection of church and society,” said LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge in a congratulatory letter to Stålsett, underlining his commitment to the pastoral and ecumenical ministry, leadership in the LWF and Church of Norway, and work in the public sphere.

Junge Welcomes the Sharing of Gifts with the Lutheran Communion

GENEVA, 16 May 2013 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge has expressed gratitude to the leadership of the United Protestant Church of France for emphasizing the witnessing dimension of the church in the unification process between the Lutheran and Reformed churches in France.

Junge participated in the 11 May inauguration of the United Protestant Church of France (EPUdF)—a union of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France and the Reformed Church of France—celebrated in Lyon. It was the culmination of a process that began in 2007. Both churches trace their history to the 16^th century Reformation movement.

New Logo Is a Dynamic Expression of the Lutheran Communion

GENEVA, 16 May 2013 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has begun rolling out its new visual identity including a new logo. It will be officially launched together with a redesigned LWF web site on 12 June during the LWF Council meeting.

The new logo represents a reinterpretation of Martin Luther’s seal, also known as the Luther rose, and includes five elements—a cross, ring/circle, Luther rose, dove and a hand.

LWF President Younan Speaks at Danish Church Days

AALBORG, Denmark/GENEVA, 15 May 2013 (LWI) – At the 2013 Danish Church Days, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), spoke of his hope for peaceful coexistence of religions and nations in Middle East.

In his keynote address before an attentive audience on 9 May (Ascension Day) in the northern city of Aalborg, Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) said, ”One of the great challenges of the 21^st century will be to reclaim the power of faith as a driving force for justice, peace, and love. We must be convinced that no one religion has a monopoly on hate or extremism, and that all of us—Christians, Muslims, Jews—are equally responsible and equally called to work together to seek the common, positive values of love, compassion, justice, and peace.”

LWF Representatives Speak on Youth Participation and Sharing of Resources

HAMBURG, Germany/ GENEVA, 14 May 2013 (LWI) – Questions of justice and a responsible economy were a central focus of the 34^th German Protestant Kirchentag, which took place from 1 to 5 May 2013 in Hamburg.

The Kirchentag is a German Protestant lay movement and the theme for this gathering was “As much as you need” (Exodus 16:18). Almost 120,000 full-time participants attended worship services; exchanged ideas about faith; and engaged in discussion about current political affairs with representatives from the church, civil society and political sphere. The guest speakers included German Federal President Joachim Gauck, who is a former Lutheran pastor, and Chancellor Angela Merkel.