General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt sends message of solidarity following upsurge of post-election violence
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) condemns violence and stands with the churches and people of Brazil as they seek to promote justice and peace at this time of political violence and threats to the country’s democratic institutions.
In a 10 January letter sent to leaders of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt says “the attacks and vandalism at the Planalto Palace, the National Congress, the Federal Supreme Court, and at other places, are reprehensible and unacceptable.”
These events, as well as hate speech, incitement to violence and the denial of the results of Brazil’s recent presidential election, are a “wake-up call about the fragility of democracies in Latin America and the urgent need to be relentless in our work for just and peaceful societies,” she says.
Know that you and the people of Brazil are in our prayers.
– LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt
Violence and destruction, Burghardt insists, “are never acceptable ways of expressing political differences.” Commending the church and its leaders for their “strong commitment” to peacemaking, Burghardt notes that “in contexts of violence, discrimination, poverty and the systematic destruction of God’s creation, our commitment to peace as individuals and churches is more necessary than ever.”
The LWF leader concludes by assuring the people and congregations in Brazil of prayers during this challenging time. As a global Lutheran family of churches, she says, “we are committed to standing with you [….] and reaffirm our commitment to support you on this path of peacemaking and in the face of your pastoral challenges.”
The IECLB, led by President Rev. Silvia Genz, has been a member church of the LWF since 1952.
