wfn.org | LWF Council 06-2005 LWF Council Terminates Tenure of Bishop

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

LWF Council Terminates Tenure of Bishop Walter E. Obare as Adviser

LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem 

31 August - 6 September 2005
PRESS RELEASE N0. 06-2005

JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM, 1 September 2005 (LWI) * The Council of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) adopted the following action on 1
September 2005:

- To terminate on the basis of provisions in the LWF Constitution the
term of service of Bishop Walter E. Obare Omwanza as adviser to the LWF
Council for his inappropriate action of interfering in the life of a
member church by consecrating a pastor of the Church of Sweden as a
bishop without the agreement of the Church of Sweden. This action has
negative consequences for the unity of the LWF as a communion of
churches and is inconsistent with Bishop Obare's role as an adviser to
the Council.

- The termination of his service has no implication whatsoever on the
membership status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya in the
LWF.

The recommendation to terminate his tenure as adviser to the Council
came from the LWF Executive Committee, which met 19*21 February 2005 in
Geneva, Switzerland. The 13-member committee confirmed it had received
the news that Obare consecrated Rev. Arne Olsson as bishop of the
Mission Province in Sweden on 5 February 2005.

Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta, LWF Vice-President for the Africa region
and a member of the LWF Executive Committee, said, "the African
bishops and presidents met with Bishop Obare in September 2004 at the
LWF Council meeting, listened to his concerns, and then advised him
against going to Sweden in order to consecrate a bishop."

The Council wishes to emphasize that this action is no reflection on
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, but an internal matter between
Bishop Obare and the Council of the LWF. "By interfering in the
affairs of the Church of Sweden, Bishop Obare has undermined his role as
adviser to the Council. In view of his role as adviser to the Program
Committee for Theology and Studies, the Council can no longer receive
his advice with confidence," said Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, LWF general
secretary.

"My concern is that we uphold the unity of the LWF while always
respecting diversity among our member churches. The actions of Bishop
Obare threaten that unity," said LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson.
(372 words) 

*	*	*

There are around 170 participants in this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending are officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators,
and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at
the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the
President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other
members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing
the different LWF regions. 

During the Council Meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services
can be reached at mobile telephone No. +972 52 378 1673 

*	*	*

(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.)

[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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