wfn.org | Noko hopes for possible worldwide Anglican-Lutheran agreement

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

LWF general secretary addresses Lambeth Conference

CANTERBURY, England/GENEVA, 23 July 1998 (lwi) - A possible worldwide
Anglican-Lutheran agreement of full communion would be a "natural next
step," according to Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary
Ishmael Noko.  In his greeting to the 13th Lambeth Conference meeting in
Canterbury, England, 19 July to 9 Aug., Noko referred to the Porvoo
agreement between Anglicans and Lutherans in Great Britain and the
Nordic and Baltic countries. "It is my sincere hope that similar
agreements of communion can also become a reality soon in North America
and then also in Africa," he said.

To explore the possibilities for such a step, Noko suggested that a
re-convening of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission would be
necessary.

Noko also addressed the present status of the "Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification" between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. It is
still not clear, he said, "whether the Joint Declaration can be the
object of a joint ecumenical confirmation, as the Roman Catholic Church
has expressed some reservations on significant elements of the
Declaration." Nevertheless, the progress already achieved in this
dialogue is of great importance, Noko emphasized.

A major ecumenical task lies ahead "to continue exploring the
significance of the doctrine of justification for other central issues
in the church, such as ministry, sacraments, authority in the church and
pressing ethical concerns of today," Noko noted.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/