wfn.org | LWI 2009-027 Internship with the Lutheran World Federation Can Change a Life

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Internship with the Lutheran World Federation Can Change a Life
Church Universe Has Expanded For Augsburg Dean and Zambian
Reverend 

GENEVA, 31 March 2009 (LWI) - Nearly 30 years ago, Rev. Susanne
Kasch was the first woman theologian to complete an internship
with the Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF).  

"My stay at the Lutheran World Federation and in Geneva
broadened my horizons incredibly," remarks Kasch looking back on
her November 1979 to August 1980 stint in the secretariat of the
global church communion. "My knowledge of the world expanded. I
learned a lot." At present she is dean of the Augsburg
Evangelical Lutheran Church District and pastor of Augsburg's St.
Anne’s Church. 

"During my internship at the Lutheran World Federation, I
learned to look beyond the confines of my regional church to
discover the roots of the worldwide Lutheran communion," the
church leader said. To her view, an important outcome of her
internship was learning how other churches around the world are
structured. Coming into contact with Lutheran theologians from
Africa, Asia and America radically changed her way of thinking
and her approach to dialogue. 

She speaks enthusiastically about her experiences of almost
three decades ago.  She benefited especially from her encounters
with people from all over the world. "An internship with the
Lutheran World Federation can change a life," Kasch affirms. 

She sees the LWF consultation "Theology in the Life of Lutheran
Churches: Transformative Perspectives and Practices Today,"
currently taking place in Augsburg, as a platform for similar
transformative experiences.

As dean of the city church district, Kasch has been charged with
the task of welcoming the many theologians and stakeholders from
around the world and dialoguing with them. Her hope has been that
the participants feel at home in Augsburg and engage in lively
discussions about the relevance of Lutheran theology in the
contemporary world.

Kasch notes that at the LWF she "came into contact with
liberation theology and feminist approaches that opened new
theological depths for me." In her pastoral praxis, she continues
to benefit from her contextual experience in Geneva.

Dean Kasch recalls as particularly meaningful the atmosphere at
multi-confessional worship in the Ecumenical Center. Duty travel,
too, gave her the opportunity to observe firsthand how Christians
throughout the world belong together and how those who need
support are strengthened. 

Rev. Rolita Machila (26) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Zambia has had a similar horizon-expanding experience as a DTS
intern. "I will return to my home church as a theologically and
interculturally enriched pastor," she comments.  Machila has
served at the LWF Secretariat since January 2008.

She finds being with the LWF a very intense endeavor, offering
opportunities to deepen knowledge.  "I am meeting people from
many parts of the world and discussing with them issues that are
currently relevant in their churches," Machila said. The work of
the LWF inspires her to practice theology from an ecumenical
standpoint and to incorporate the global perspective of the
Lutheran communion in her future pastoral ministry. 

During her time at the LWF Secretariat, Machila is focusing on
the theological aspects of climate change. Her internship will
end in May 2009. 

(Based on interviews with Dean Kasch and Rev. Machila conducted
by Claudia Schubert of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Hanover. Schubert is finishing an 11-month internship in the LWF
Office for Communication Services.)

For more information about the 25-31 March consultation
"Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches: Transformative
Perspectives and Practices Today" in Augsburg, Germany, visit
http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/Dts/DTS-TLC_Augsburg.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 68.5 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.)

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