wfn.org | LCMS - ILC and LWF Groups meet for first time since 1988

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 56
August 19, 2002

Groups meet
for first time
since 1988

For the first time since 1988, representatives of the International 
Lutheran Council (ILC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met July 30 
to Aug. 1 for face-to-face discussions.

The ILC is a worldwide association of 29 confessional Lutheran church 
bodies, including the Missouri Synod.  A handful of ILC members also belong 
to the much larger LWF.

"The meeting let us get to know one another, to understand one another, and 
to identify areas for further discussion," said Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, one 
of the ILC representatives to the meeting at LWF headquarters in Geneva, 
Switzerland.

Nafzger, executive director of the Missouri Synod's Commission on Theology 
and Church Relations, also is executive secretary of the ILC.

Last year's biennial ILC conference, which Nafzger attended with then Synod 
President Robert Kuhn, urged renewed talks with the LWF.  Discussions also 
had the support of the LWF Council.

Missouri Synod President Gerald Kieschnick, Lutheran Church_Canada 
President Ralph Mayan and Nafzger were among the eight ILC participants at 
the meeting with a similar number of LWF counterparts.

A news release issued jointly by the ILC and LWF participants said the 
meeting took place "in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere that 
enabled a frank discussion."

"There was recognition of the fact that we have a lot in common, which 
helped us to recognize the need to discuss areas where we disagree," 
Nafzger said.

Kieschnick said that for the ILC to serve its members, it needs to "know 
what the LWF is about."  He added that he is "thankful" for similarities in 
the confessional articles in the organizations' respective constitutions, 
but added he is "quite cognizant of our differences."

The joint release said that the meeting "emphasized the importance of 
better coordination, communication and theological discussion, with a view 
to improving relations in the years ahead."

Nafzger said it is "significant" that participants from both organizations 
urged regular contact be maintained between Nafzger and LWF General 
Secretary Ishmael Noko.

The next meeting between ILC and LWF representatives has been scheduled for 
Oct. 29-31, 2003, but a location has not been determined.

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