wfn.org | LWF welcomes efforts that enhance closer ties among Reformed churches

[franki@elca.org]

"Communion of communions" plays an important role in the ecumenical movement

GENEVA, 15 December 2000 (LWI) - The Lutheran-Reformed Joint Working Group
is an important instrument in the process of clarifying where the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) and World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) stand
and how they move ahead in their relationship as church families, said Rev.
Dr. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the LWF.

Dr. Noko said the LWF welcomes steps that bring Reformed churches around the
world closer among themselves, and pointed out that the "communion of
communions" will play a significant role in the ecumenical movement in the
future.

The LWF general secretary was responding to a call from the president of the
council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) PrÓses Manfred Kock that
Protestant churches consider forming a global alliance to strengthen the
voice of worldwide Protestantism. Kock made his call to Ecumenical News
International (ENI) at the annual synod of the EKD in Brunswick, Germany in
November.

Kock voiced regret at what he described as the lack of progress in
"coordinating or bringing together" the forthcoming assemblies of the LWF
and World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). The Tenth Assembly of the
LWF will take place in Winnipeg, Canada in 2003, the WARC's 24th general
council meets in Ghana in 2004.

Noko pointed out that at the present time the differences between the
Lutheran and the Reformed families respectively, considered on the global
level, is such that simply bringing the two together "would be a difficult
enterprise". He said the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973 (which has provided the
basis for church fellowship between a number of Reformation Churches in
Europe) was possible because of certain historical conditions in Europe that
have developed over a "very long period". In order for global
Lutheran-Reformed relations to develop further, he said, it is necessary for
processes of mutual familiarization on the local level to continue, or be
started, around the world.

On the possibility "of new constellations of world assemblies," the LWF
general secretary said progress could be made through deliberations and
decisions in the respective assemblies. "The LWF will most certainly devote
time to this issue at its coming assembly in Winnipeg, Canada in 2003."

Both the LWF and WARC secretariats are based in Geneva, and have many points
of contact including regular joint staff working meetings that provide a
forum for discussing future global work.

The world's Protestant churches do not presently gather under a single
umbrella body. Many belong to organizations representing their church
traditions such as the LWF and WARC, and also are members of the World
Council of Churches.

(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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