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LWF Council Agrees to Plans for Trilateral Dialogue with Roman Catholics and Mennonites

Posted in: Faith in Action, News

Ms Eun-hae Kwon, Program Committee for World Service chairperson, presents the committee's report. © LWF/H.Putsman Penet

Compilation of 2011 Council Actions

GENEVA, 17 June 2011 (LWI) –At its meeting in Geneva, 9-14 June, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council approved plans for a three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Mennonites.

On the final day of its meeting, the Council, receiving recommendations from the Program Committees for Theology and Studies, and for Ecumenical Affairs that met jointly, accepted plans for a Trilateral Dialogue Commission composed of four representatives each from the LWF, the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Mennonite World Conference.

The Council asked LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge, in consultation with member churches, to identify and propose names of Lutheran members to the Commission, considering the importance of gender and regional representation and familiarity with the ecumenical partners and the issues to be discussed.

The general secretary was also asked to continue the process of preparing for a Lutheran-Pentecostal International Commission and report his progress to the next Council meeting.

The Council re-affirmed the strong commitment of the LWF to the work being conducted by the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France. The governing body thanked the institute for its substantial contributions to the bilateral dialogues, in particular to the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission and to the Lutheran-Pentecostal conversations, and for its continued support to the LWF Office for Ecumenical Affairs.

World Service

The Council received the report of the Standing Committee for World Service which had outlined the significant progress made in achieving program coherence and consistency across the Department for World Service (DWS) work in 37 countries, collaborating ecumenically, with the United Nations and government organizations.

The reported pointed out that, “The challenges DWS faces in Haiti are huge, and a timely and effective operation is hampered by many factors.”

Low funding had prompted the closing of DWS country programs in Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Council heard. Plans for a fact-finding mission in Yemen in February 2011 were cancelled until the security situation there improves. In Tunisia and Libya, the DWS is working with the ACT Alliance to assist refugees. World Service helped Japanese Lutheran churches organize their response following the 11 March earthquake in Japan.

The Council endorsed the committee’s recommendation that the LWF Treasurer continues to help the Council to understand membership fees and how the governing body members hold each other accountable for LWF’s financial support.

International Affairs and Human Rights

Adopting a recommendation of the Program Committee for International Affairs and Human Rights, the Council encouraged LWF member churches to observe the first week of February every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the Interfaith Harmony Week in October 2010 to promote better relations among religions, faiths and beliefs.

Other recommendations from this committee included the three public statements adopted by the Council on Sudan, the Middle East, and refugees and forced migration.

Communications

Considering a report from the Program Committee for Communication Services, the Council agreed to the involvement of regional communication networks in defining an LWF communication strategy. It also endorsed a complementary survey on the status of communication in the regions.

Mission and Development

The Council agreed to a recommendation by the Program Committee for Mission and Development mandating the new Committee for Holistic Mission and Member Church Relations to make concrete proposals on how its work would continue in light of changes to the LWF Constitution.

Membership

On the basis of information received from the recently established North American Lutheran Church (NALC) which is seeking membership in the LWF, the Council asked the LWF general secretary to initiate a dialogue process with the applicant in order to receive more information on its legal and theological status, and to clarify various issues as outlined in the LWF Bylaws.

The general secretary would also initiate follow-up procedures upon the advice of the regional process to secure important documentation in preparation for the application process. The application would then be presented to the next meeting of the Standing Committee for Membership and Constitution for consideration.

Finances

On finances, the Council received the LWF Budget Frame 2012, and requested the general secretary to send the annual plans and budgets for 2012 to Council members, who would send their comments to their respective vice presidents for discussion at the November 2011 Meeting of Officers. The general secretary was requested to bring a 2012 proposal that reflects improved alignment to the LWF Strategy 2012-2017; is financially sustainable; and includes a balanced budget. It will be approved through a mail vote by the Council.

2012 Council Meeting

Next year’s Council meeting will take place from 14-20 June in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva is tentatively scheduled as the location, pending discussion with Swiss authorities on the denial of a visa for Liberian delegate Mr A. Elijah Zina. Other locations were also being considered if the discussions were unsatisfactory, Junge said. (823 words)

Council 2011 News | Photos | Documents

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