wfn.org | New Commission Studies Condemnations of Anabaptists in

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

New Commission Studies Condemnations of Anabaptists in Lutheran Confessional Writings
Outcome of National Dialogues Are an Important Resource

GENEVA, 25 August 2005 (LWI) - "The memories of the persecution and the
killings of Anabaptists in large numbers so many hundreds of years back,
are still very fresh and painful among Anabaptists/Mennonites today.
Seeing church historians bring these issues to the fore emphasizes the
importance of the work we have begun." These remarks by Rev. Sven
Oppegaard, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Assistant General Secretary
for Ecumenical Affairs, pointed to the significance of the work of a study
commission recently established between Lutherans and Mennonites.

The mandate of the Lutheran - Mennonite International Study Commission
which held its first meeting 27 June - 1 July 2005, in Strasbourg, France,
is to consider the condemnations of Anabaptists in Lutheran confessional
writings and their applicability to the teaching of Anabaptists/Mennonites
today. Wider issues pertinent to the  Lutheran-Mennonite relations will
also be included.

Oppegaard noted that this first meeting established a framework for study
and discussion that is very hopeful for the years to come. Although the
commission is not "a communion-seeking dialogue commission," he said, "it
would certainly bring  Lutherans and Mennonites closer," he added. Through
its deliberations, the Commission became more deeply sensitive to the
lasting memory of the suffering of Anabaptists at the time of the
Reformation as a result of persecution by civil authorities in Roman
Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed areas, a communiqué from this first
meeting stated.

The commission pointed out that Christians of all confessions were victims
of persecution during the sixteenth century reformation period. "Reflection on this matter raises serious questions concerning the theological
rationale for pursuing religious and social goals by violent means,
including torture and killing,"  the communiqué stated.

At national level Lutheran-Mennonite dialogues have already been conducted
in France (1981-1984), Germany (1989-1992), and the United States of
America (2001-2004). To a certain extent these dialogues also considered
the condemnations of Anabaptists in Lutheran confessions, and their
outcomes constitute an important resource for the present, international
commission.

The study commission's work is expected to take at least three years, and
it is hoped that an official declaration concerning the condemnations can
be made by the governing bodies of the two world communions.

Sponsored jointly by the LWF and the Mennonite World Conference (MWC), the
Lutheran - Mennonite International Study Commission is co-chaired by Rev.
Rainer Burkart (Mennonite, Germany) and Prof. Gottfried Seebass (Lutheran,
Germany).

Mennonite participants include also Prof. Claude Baecher (France); Ms
Hellen Biseko Bradburn (Tanzania); and Prof. John Roth (USA). Lutheran
participants also include Bishop Litsietsi M. Dube (Zimbabwe); Prof. Theo
Dieter (Germany); Prof. Annie Noblesse-Rocher (France); and Prof. Timothy
J. Wengert (USA). Oppegaard and MWC Executive Secretary, Dr Larry Miller
serve as co-secretaries.

The next meeting of the Lutheran - Mennonite International Study Commission will take place in Strasbourg, France, 5 - 9 June 2006. (488 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total membership of nearly 66 million. 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.)

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