Scheduled Accompaniment Visit of the LWF with the Church of Sweden

“Uphold a common future”

(LWI) – On 7-9 May 2014, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge, accompanied by Bishop Tamas Fabini of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hungary and Rev. Dr. Suneel Bhanu Busi, Council advisor and dean at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in India, met with the bishops council of the Church of Sweden (CoS) in the Communion Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The visit with the CoS is the final in a series of three following a decision by the LWF Council in June 2013. The Council asked the LWF Communion Office to offer an accompaniment process to the three LWF member churches that are affected by a rupture of relations over the issues of family, marriage and sexuality.

“I appreciate the endeavours of the LWF to uphold and enhance the talks between us and in building and upholding a common future” Anders Wejryd, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, said.

 “This was a meaningful conversation as was the case with the meeting with EECMY and ELCA,” LWF General Secretary Rev Martin Junge added. “I am confident that we can bring a meaningful report to Council and be able to continue our journey.”

In February, the LWF visited the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in April with the Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus in Ethiopia. The LWF Communion Office will offer an account of the accompaniment process to the LWF Council in June this year.