LWF Offers Condolences for ELCC Bishop Emeritus Dr. Thomas Nyiwe

General Secretary Junge Expresses “Gratitude for Service” 

(LWI) - In a letter to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon (ELCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge expressed his “deep sadness” at the death of Bishop Emeritus Dr. Thomas Nyiwe on Saturday, 9 August 2014, after an illness.  

“On behalf of the LWF communion and the Communion Office, I wish to convey our sincere condolences.  I would also like to convey many greetings and condolences from LWF council members and friends who have contacted us after they received the information about the passing-on of a colleague and a friend whom they had known and worked together with in the communion,” Junge said. “We share our prayers and thoughts with the entire Nyiwe family, the ELCC, the whole LWF communion and those whose lives were touched by Dr. Nyiwe until he was called to rest.”

The LWF communion “is grateful for the gifts and accompaniment that our brother, father and colleague the late bishop Nyiwe offered to the communion,” Junge added. 

“He took on various responsibilities on behalf of the ELCC, the Africa region and also the global communion, serving as an LWF council member for the period of 2003-2010. It was also during his leadership that the ELCC took the bold decision to ordain women in the ministry of Word and Sacrament (May 2012) which is one of the landmarks left to the church. We enjoyed very much serving in the Lord’s vineyard together.”

The late bishop Nyiwe will be laid to rest on Saturday, 30 August.