wfn.org | First Visit of a SELK Bishop to LWF Geneva Secretariat

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Talks on Closer Cooperation and Future Relations

GENEVA, 5 June 2001 (LWI) - The different forms of membership in the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), cooperation with non-member churches and
questions relating to the understanding of ordination were the main topics
during a May 29-30 meeting between LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Ishmael
Noko and Bishop Dr. Diethardt Roth of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Germany (SELK) at the LWF Geneva secretariat.

Bishop Roth had accepted Noko's invitation, extended during a meeting last
year in Wittenberg. In an interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI),
Roth underlined that his visit was the first of a SELK bishop or church
leader to the LWF Geneva secretariat. The discussions with the general
secretary and other staff persons focused on information about the extensive
work of the LWF worldwide. The bishop described the talks as "very frank."

On LWF membership Noko explained the forms of full and associate membership
as well as the status of recognized congregations. The general secretary
pointed out that discussions with non-member congregations and churches were
based on the principle of frank, constructive dialogue with Lutheran
churches worldwide, and had been endorsed repeatedly by LWF Assemblies.

Bishop Roth said the main focus of his visit was to deliberate ways in which
the SELK could work with the LWF, "based on what the LWF could give SELK and
vice versa." The talks would be assessed in the appropriate structures of
SELK, Roth stated, "then we will see what these talks and discussions lead
to." He expressed satisfaction "that particularly in the field of diakonia
and development aid there is already fruitful cooperation between the LWF
and SELK via different organizations in Germany-Bread for the World (Brot
fnr die Welt), Evangelical Development Service (EED), and the joint working
group of Protestant social services.

The general secretary expressed the LWF's understanding of ordination as a
ministry of the baptized-both men and women-and stressed that it is not a
doctrinal issue. Noko referred to resolutions on that subject adopted by LWF
Assemblies and Council meetings, noting that these statements are in no way
a constitutional requirement for LWF member churches. Rather they are an
expression of the churches' commitment to take "constructive steps" and
"reaffirm commitment to women's ordination as the expression of the
communion of all those baptized in Christ in witnessing to the Gospel." On
this topic the SELK constitution states that only those "called and
ordained" can exercise the "ministries given by Christ of proclaiming the
word and administering the sacraments." It stipulates that these ministries
can "only be conferred upon men."

A further emphasis of the Geneva talks was the founding of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Belarus, which had met with criticism within the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS) and the LWF.
On 2 December 2000 representatives of Evangelical Lutheran congregations in
Belarus founded an independent "confessional" Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Belarus. Previously these congregations belonged to the ELCROS. According to
Bishop Roth, it was important that those concerned in this matter "be
mutually aware of the differing positions on the situation there and develop
understanding for one another as far as possible."

Noko criticized the fact that the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Belarus had taken place without previous consultation and
discussion. There had been no consultation between the SELK and ELCROS
church leadership prior to the consecration of Bishop Leonid Zwicki last
March, in which Bishop Roth had participated. If congregations or parts of a
church opted to form an independent church the LWF respected their decision,
emphasized Noko. But within one church this should occur in mutual
consultation, he added.

The SELK has about 40,000 members in Germany a majority of whom are in
Berlin, North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Hesse. The nearly 200
congregations are led by about 140 pastors. The church, financed by
voluntary membership contributions, has its own theological college in
Oberursel (near Frankfurt/Main), runs its own mission agency and is
responsible for several diaconal services.

The SELK understands itself as a confessional Lutheran church. It originated
in the independent Lutheran minority churches from the 19th century. In 1972
the hitherto independent, small Lutheran churches of the Federal Republic of
Germany merged to form SELK. The Evangelical Lutheran ("Old Lutheran")
Church of the former German Democratic Republic also joined the SELK in
1991.

(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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