wfn.org | Call for Strengthened Partnership between Lutherans and

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

Call for Strengthened Partnership between Lutherans and Orthodox
Noko: LWF and Ecumenical Patriarchate Share Similar Concerns on Peace
Building

ISTANBUL, Turkey/GENEVA, 28 January 2004 (LWI) - "The Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) wishes to strengthen its partnership with Orthodox sisters
and brothers in all places and in all ways," stressed LWF General Secretary,
Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko during a meeting with His All Holiness, Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I, January 28. 

A strengthened partnership, said Noko, would contribute, "to the
accomplishment of our efforts in all areas where churches struggle with
serious challenges in the world."

The LWF and the Ecumenical Patriarchate shared similar concerns and
commitments with regard to conflict resolution and peace building, Noko
noted. He underlined the Patriarch's "strong dedication to the cause of
protecting God's creation as it has been entrusted to us for good
stewardship, with respect for all life and its environment." 

The LWF general secretary also recalled the establishment of the
Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission, of which the first meeting took place in
Espoo, Finland, in 1981. The Ecumenical Patriarch described the
Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue as "a blessing for both families," an expression
of hope as well as a place to share knowledge and experience. He called upon
the LWF delegation to join spiritual forces to face contemporary challenges
worldwide.

The LWF general secretary was accompanied by Co-President of the
Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission, Archbishop Dr Georg Kretschmar
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States), and Director of the
LWF Office for Communication Services, Ms Karin Achtelstetter. (245 words)

[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 inter-faith 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 LWF's information service. 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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