wfn.org | Bishop Christian Krause Receives Germany's Highest Award

[FRANKI@elca.org]

President Rau Acknowledges Outstanding Contribution to Ecumenical Movement

BERLIN, Germany/GENEVA, 12 February 2001 (LWI) - Bishop Dr. Christian
Krause, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has been presented
with the highest merit award of the Federal Republic of Germany.

On February 1, Germany's President Johannes Rau conferred the Starred Cross
of Merit on Krause who is also bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Brunswick.

Rau commended Krause for his outstanding contribution to the church and to
the worldwide ecumenical movement, particularly as president of the LWF. In
his commendation, Rau recalled the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of
Justification between the LWF and the Roman Catholic Church, signed in
Augsburg, Germany on 31 October 1999.

In response, Bishop Krause acknowledged the commitment of many people from
all over the world with whom he had "been privileged" to work in various
efforts "to overcome the often bitter barriers and divisions between North
and South, East and West." "It had been their hope to make the world more
peaceful and just," he said.

In Germany, Krause has been actively involved in combating social problems.
President Rau cited the bishop's devotion to improving the labor market
situation in Lower Saxony. In addition, during Krause's tenure as general
secretary of the German Kirchentag, [1985 to 1994] the forum turned into a
major event featuring a variety of programs that particularly attracted
youth.

Distinguished guests at the Berlin ceremony in honor of Krause included
Germany's former president Dr. Richard von WeizsScker, the Brandenburg
Premier Dr. Manfred Stolpe, the South African ambassador Professor Dr
Sibusisu Bengu and retired parliamentary secretary Klaus-Jnrgen Hedrich.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. 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 acknowledgement.]

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