Towards common witness

Lutheran-Pentecostal dialogue continues its focus on Christian identity   

(LWI) - A five-year dialogue between Lutherans and Pentecostals focusing on Christian identity is progressing well. Members of the group held their second annual meeting, 24-30 September, in Wittenberg, Germany.

The international Lutheran-Pentecostal Dialogue Commission, which brings together representatives of various classical Pentecostal churches and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has chosen five themes under the overarching focus on “Christian Identity” in light of Luke 4: 18-19. The goal is to define together ways of common witness between Lutherans and Pentecostals, and to gain better understanding of each other’s theological and spiritual traditions locally and internationally

The Wittenberg meeting discussed on mission in light of the words from Luke 4:18 “God has anointed me to proclaim.”

The key presentations at this year’s meeting were by Rev. Johannes Zeiler, Church of Sweden, on “Lutheran Perspectives on Mission,” and Rev. Tham Wan Yee of the Assemblies of God, Malaysia, who spoke on “”God has anointed me to proclaim” - A Pentecostal Reading from the Global South.”

Members of the group also discussed the religious landscape in secular Eastern Germany, following a presentation by Dr Andreas Fincke, Evangelical Church in Central Germany.

Meeting in the city where Reformer Martin Luther lived and taught in the 16th century, participants visited various exhibitions focusing on the impact of the Reformation, as 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the movement to reform the church. They attended a service, marking a tree planted by the Swedish Diocese of Linköping in the Luther Garden, which is jointly managed by the LWF and the City of Wittenberg. “This garden is a symbol of Christian hope and the strengthening relations of Christian churches worldwide,” they stated.

This garden [the Luther Garden] is a symbol of Christian hope and the strengthening relations of Christian churches worldwide.

The commission is co-chaired by Dr Jean-Daniel Plüss of the Swiss Pentecostal Mission and Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil. The group held its first meeting in September 2016 in Baguio, Philippines. The next meeting will take place in October 2018 in Latin America. A common document will be released upon completion of the current phase of the dialogue in 2020.

Read the full communiqué.