wfn.org | News in brief, LWI No. 01 & 02/2009

["LWFNews" <LWFNews@lutheranworld.org>]

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION  
>LWI News online:
>http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html 

- Ethiopian Church Marks 50 Years of Service and Growth
- New Church President in Ethiopia
- LWF 2003 Assembly Coordinator Dies
- Indonesian Theologian Sinaga Joins LWF Studies Department
- Woman Elected Bishop of the Evangelical Church in Central
Germany
- New Swedish Partnership with LWF Seeks to Strengthen Member
Churches’ Capacity
- New NGO Bill in Ethiopia to Regulate Aid Agencies’
Operations
- Lutheran Woman Chaparro to Head Venezuelan Church
- Malaysian Bishop Rajah Prioritizes Interreligious Tolerance

Ethiopian Church Marks 50 Years of Service and Growth

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) celebrated
its 50th anniversary and 110 years of missionary work in a series
of events from 17 to 18 January in the capital Addis Ababa. (More
at http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2347.EN.html)

>*        *          *

>New Church President in Ethiopia

At its Eighth General Assembly, held 20-25 January, the
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) elected Rev. Dr
Wakseyoum Idosa as the new church president for a four-year term.
He succeeds Rev. Iteffa Gobena, who had led the Ethiopian church
since 2001. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2348.EN.html)

>*        *          *

>LWF 2003 Assembly Coordinator Dies

The former coordinator of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Tenth Assembly, Rev. Arthur Leichnitz, passed away on 3 March at
the age of 59 in Winnipeg, Canada, after a long illness. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2352.EN.html)

>*        *          *

Indonesian Theologian Sinaga Joins LWF Studies Department

Indonesian theologian Rev. Dr Martin Lukito Sinaga has assumed
the position of Study Secretary for Theology and the Church at
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for Theology and
Studies (DTS) for an initial two-year term. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2353.EN.html)

>*        *          *

Woman Elected Bishop of the Evangelical Church in Central
Germany

Oberkirchenrat Ilse Junkermann of Stuttgart has become the first
woman bishop of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM).
(More at http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2354.EN.html)

>*        *          *

New Swedish Partnership with LWF Seeks to Strengthen Member
Churches’ Capacity

Mr Lars Hofgren from Sweden has joined the Department for
Mission and Development (DMD) at the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) as coordinator of a comprehensive capacity development
program with LWF member churches. 

The initiative is a joint partnership between the LWF and Church
of Sweden (CoS) which has seconded Hofgren to DMD. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2355.EN.html)

>*        *          *

New NGO Bill in Ethiopia to Regulate Aid Agencies’ Operations

The Ethiopian Parliament endorsed a controversial bill on the
work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the country.
Passed on 6 January 2009, the new bill determines the legal
ground for the establishment and operation of civic institutions
as well as international and local NGOs. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2356.EN.html)

>*        *          *

Lutheran Woman Chaparro to Head Venezuelan Church

The new president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Venezuela (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en Venezuela - IELV) Rev.
Guillermina Chaparro says her election as the head of the church
is an indication of the IELV’s steady growth, especially in the
rural areas. 

She succeeds Rev. Akos Puky who has served as church president
since 2002. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2357.EN.html)

>*        *          *

Malaysian Bishop Rajah Prioritizes Interreligious Tolerance

At his installation as the head of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Malaysia (ELCM), Bishop Dr Solomon Rajah promised to
forge greater inter-religious tolerance and understanding between
the different faiths in the country. 

Rajah succeeds Bishop Julius D. Paul, who died in a boating
accident in Guatemala last November. (More at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2358.EN.html)

>*        *          *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 140 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 million. 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.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information
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