wfn.org | Dr. Hans Christian Knuth Re-elected VELKD Presiding Bishop

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

Major Discussions at VELKD General Synod Meeting

BAMBERG, Germany/GENEVA, 9 November 2002 (LWI) * The General Synod
of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD)
recently re-elected with a unanimous vote, the Rev. Dr. Hans
Christian Knuth, as VELKD presiding bishop for another three
years.

As VELKD presiding bishop, Knuth, 62, is also moderator of the
German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation
(GNC/LWF). He has been bishop of the Schleswig diocese of the
North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germany since 1991.

A summary of issues discussed at the October 19-23 General Synod
follows:

"Promoting Confidence in the Ecumenical Community"
Confidence in the ecumenical community with the Roman Catholic
Church was called for by the VELKD officer responsible for
relations with the Roman Catholic church, Bishop Johannes
Friedrich, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. In his report,
Friedrich said he was "grateful that there was successful
cooperation between our two churches in facing challenges in
society." Here "definite progress" can be reported. His report
presented an analysis of developments in the Roman Catholic church
and assessed that in light of ecumenical dialogue. "We can in no
way be said to be standing still." At the level of church
leadership, conversations are said to be "friendly, and our work
together is professional."

The Ecumenical Kirchentag (church convention) planned for 203 in
Berlin is seen by Friedrich as "one of the most important church
events in the coming year in Germany." However, he feels that
sensitivity will be required of all participants in showing
respect for one another's ways, not demanding too much of one
another or even taking offence.

Concerning calls for a common celebration of Holy Communion,
Friedrich has no illusions: "The problem of celebrating Communion
together is not one that can be solved by the Roman Catholic
bishops in Germany on their own." The VELKD officer feels
convinced that there are many goals of ecumenical fellowship
besides sharing in Communion together which are not being fully
explored, although this would certainly be possible. Nevertheless,
he affirmed the basic Lutheran position "that we who are baptized
and belong to a church which is founded on the creeds of the early
Church, who believe in the real presence of Christ in this meal,
and who desire to participate in Holy Communion, also desire to
have others participate."

In his report, Friedrich deplored the lack of a decision by the
German Catholic Bishops' Conference on allowing eucharistic
hospitality for couples and families in confessionally mixed
marriages, and that there also has been "no real progress in
greater openness towards holding ecumenical Sunday worship
services on special occasions."

Dogmatic clarification and line-drawing as to what is acceptable
within Roman Catholic teaching cannot suffice in the long term to
answer people's existential questions, he said. A church with a
real feeling for pastoral care would show it by increasing its
attractiveness and would seek to persuade people of its teachings.
The issue of ecumenical Sunday services on the occasion of city
anniversaries, major events or special celebrations for clubs and
associations, said the bishop, is simply about "whether we seize
mission opportunities in the world of everyday life, or whether we
miss them."

The Iraqi Crisis and Concern for World Peace

Concerning the Iraqi crisis, synod mmbers expressed their "great
concern for world peace." They stated their hope that through the
United Nations, "diplomatic and peaceful channels will be found
for avoiding a military conflict." In the face of the threat to
use military force against Iraq, the General Synod encouraged its
member churches to support measures towards a non-violent
solution.

Strengthening the Role of Religious Instruction in Schools
The synod called on its member churches "to give attention to
strengthening the role of Protestant religious instruction, and to
cooperate with the state authorities in making sure that an
appropriate range of classes are available." The member churches
are also asked to offer religious education teachers "not only
professional opportunities for further education, but also concern
and nurture from their churches." The General Synod stated that
religious instruction had a "central and indispensable place" in
the schools.

A Clearer Image for Lutheran Identity

The synod spoke in favor of strengthening German Protestantism,
"also through giving a clearer image to Lutheran identity based on
the Augsburg Confession." In view of discussions on restructuring
the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), synod members expressed
"emphatic support for keeping the VELKD structure as a united
church with its church-wide confessional ties and corresponding
status in the ecumenical scene."

In a unanimous resolution, the General Synod adopted as its own, a
joint vote already taken by the bishops' conference and the church
board. Both these bodies had voted unanimously against a uniform
organization for the Protestant church and a "closer linkage"
between the EKD and VELKD. The General Synod, bishops' conference
and church board all plan to take an active role in the debate on
restructuring, and the synod appointed a planning committee for
this purpose.

Guidelines for the Church

With only one dissenting vote, the General Synod adopted the
"Guidelines for Church Life - A handbook of regulations for the
life o the church." The Guidelines will replace the1955 "Order for
Church Life," ending a process of discussion that was begun in
1993. The purpose of the Guidelines is to "help in taking
decisions on Christian action and church practice," as it says in
this document of almost 130 pages. It was considered necessary to
revise the former "Order," containing 25 pages, since "so much has
fundamentally changed in the church and in society," and the
understanding of order, or systems of rules, has also changed.

The guidelines describe what is considered standard for each area
of activity in a Lutheran church; an "overall context" is
formulated which seeks to communicate the theological and legal
aspects of church life. Draft guidelines were under discussion in
the VELKD member churches since July 2001. Numerous requests for
revisions were received from church boards, synods, pastoral
conferences, parish councils and individuals.

The "Guidelines for Church Life" describe a basic consensus within
the VELKD, a context within which the member churches make their
individual rulings. There will now be a process of reception in
which each member church must clarify the status, which the
document will have in its life. The guidelines will be available
in bookstores from the beginning of 2003.

The VELKD is a union of eight German regional churches, including
those in Bavaria, Brunswick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, North Elbia,
Saxony, Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia. The VELKD represents about
eleven million members.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 mllion 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 acknowledgment.]

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