wfn.org | Seek unity for the sake of mission, Noko urges North American churches

[franki@elca.org]

LWF's worldwide responsibility

WINNIPEG, Canada/GENEVA, 12 December 2000 (LWI) - "Isolation is contrary to
the nature of the church," said Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), at the LWF North America Regional
Consultation held in Winnipeg, Canada, from 29 November  to 3 December 2000.

"The existence of a Lutheran church as an end in itself or in isolation by
choice is something which is in opposition to her nature and confessional
stance," Noko said when he addressed the consultation's theme "Fully the
Church in North America: What Does this Mean?"

In a brief historical reference, Noko traced the path from the Reformation
to the LWF today. "From the Reformation onward, the majority of Lutheran
churches were state churches," he said. "Although the intention of the
reformers was to reform the church within one, catholic and apostolic
church, each individual state church became more and more isolated from the
rest. They were co-opted into the political system, widening their isolation
both geographically and spiritually. Except for limited private contacts,
there were no official connections among Lutherans for a very long time."

"The formation of the Lutheran World Federation should be understood partly
as an attempt to step out of a traditional isolationism and, at the same
time, an engagement in the worldwide responsibility," said Noko. "The
Lutheran churches through the Lutheran World Federation have individually
and cooperatively committed themselves to carry on doctrinal dialogues with
other church families for the purpose of establishing full church fellowship
for the sake of proclaiming in words and deeds the one Gospel of Jesus
Christ."

The LWF general secretary acknowledged that, "In some circles Lutherans have
been portrayed as reactionary confessionalists who live in the past and tend
to place their church confessions on the level with, or even above, the
scriptures." However the confessions were not meant to be narrowly
exclusive, he explained. They assumed an unusual significance for Lutherans
because the churches of the Augsburg Confession had no common ministry or
order common to all, and the confessions were the only remaining bridge
between and among the Lutheran churches in various countries and cultures,
Noko added.

These confessions have the same bridging ability in ecumenical dialogues
because of their universal character and validity. "The church of the
Augsburg Confession is loyal to her confession precisely by not viewing
herself as the exclusive and final expression of Christ's intention in
calling the church," Noko said. To be fully the church (Lutheran or
otherwise) "includes being called to seek unity with the rest of Christendom
for the sake of God's mission."

"It is also part of the nature of the church and the mission of the church
to share in the sufferings and the struggles of humankind," Noko emphasized.
He noted that the LWF would have an opportunity to discern its mission as it
gathers in Winnipeg, July 21-31, 2003, for its Tenth Assembly, guided by the
theme "For the Healing of the World."

The LWF general secretary asked participants to consider ways that the North
American context could be used to explore the Assembly theme. Participants
in the Winnipeg consultation came from the Baltic Diaspora Churches, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Canada, and included ecumenical representatives from the Anglican Church
of Canada, Episcopal Church USA, and Moravian Church-Northern Province, as
well as Lutherans from Argentina's United Evangelical Lutheran Church, Basel
Christian Church of Malaysia, and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon.

By Rev. Kenn Ward

(The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries
representing over 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, normally held every six years.
Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which meets
annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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