wfn.org | (LWF) City of Winnipeg Hoists flag to honor LWF Tenth Assembly

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

LWF Tenth Assembly, Winnipeg, Canada, 21-31 July 2003

PRESS RELEASE NO. 01

City of Winnipeg Hoists flag to honor LWF Tenth Assembly
Mayor Lillian Thomas commends Lutherans' efforts towards Social Justice.

WINNIPEG, Canada, 21 July 2003 - A symbolic flag raised against the backdrop
of a bright and sunny mid-morning sky marked a significant process of the
Tenth of the Lutheran Word Federation (LWF) in Winnipeg, Canada.

The flag bears the logo "For the Healing of the World," which is the theme of
the 10-day Assembly attracting LWF delegates and visitors from around the
world. It will fly in front of the Winnipeg Convention Centre while the
conference is in session July 21 to 31.

In hoisting the flag, Winnipeg Deputy Mayor Lillian Thomas paid honor to
Lutherans for their efforts to ensure social justice, peace and charity as a
tenet of their faith.

"You have been an example of the Good Samaritan in living with compassion for
each other in word and deed," Thomas said.

"Your theme 'For the Healing of the World' is, I believe, not only the theme
of this conference but the embodiment of your mission."

This is the first time that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is
hosting an LWF Assembly, held normally every six years, and the second time
in North America.

The LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, thanked Winnipeg for hosting
the Assembly and contributing toward the theme of the event.

"As we raise this flag, we understand that this city of Winnipeg would like
to say to the world, we are going to contribute toward the healing of the
world," Noko said.

The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is taking place
21-31 Jul 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, under the theme "For the Healing of the
World." It is being hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
(ELCIC).

There are some 800 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth Assembly,
including delegates from the 133 churches with full membership and three
associate members.  The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the
LWF, and meets normally every six years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is
governed by its Council that meets annually, and by its Executive Committee. 

Further information including photos, video and audio news, is posted on the
Assembly Web site www.lwf-assembly.org

To order photographs, please contact LWF-Photo@lutheranworld.org

*	*	*

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 million
Lutherans worldwide. 

The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest
such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission
and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.