wfn.org | LWI 2009-053 LWF Welcomes Nobel Peace Prize Award to US President Barack Obama

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LWF Welcomes Nobel Peace Prize Award to US President Barack Obama
Noko Cites Efforts to Restore Broken Relationships and Build Bridges  Across Faiths

GENEVA, 9 October 2009 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)  welcomes the award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to United States  President Barack Hussein Obama, a person who has inspired hope and  demonstrated deep understanding of global leadership amid unprecedented  crises worldwide.

Obama "has helped generate a tidal wave of hope around the world. He has  acknowledged that the fundamental aspirations of nations and peoples are  shared aspirations, and has affirmed the importance of international  cooperation in achieving them," said LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael  Noko, in a statement issued today.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Obama as this year's Nobel  laureate today, citing recognition for his "extraordinary efforts to  strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

In the LWF statement, Noko said Obama had begun "to restore broken  relationships, including across faith boundaries." He noted these are  significant contributions to progress toward peace and security, and  important foundations for dealing with the global crises - humanitarian,  environmental, economic and political.

Noko cited Obama's resolve especially in addressing some of the fundamental  obstacles to the search for peace in the Holy Land. "His leadership in  this matter deserves the active support of all people of good will, for  the sake of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and for the sake of  peace with justice in the land of Christ's birth."

The announcement of the peace prize winner coincides today with the 20th  anniversary of the peaceful revolution in the former German Democratic  Republic, which culminated on 9 October 1989 in peaceful demonstrations  after prayers in Leipzig's churches. Noko said these events demonstrated  "the power of ordinary people coming together to achieve freedom through  non-violent means, bearing candles against guns and the threat of  violence, and the importance of the church's role in that context."

The LWF general secretary expressed his prayer that the Nobel prize award  to a political leader of "the new generation will serve to inspire a whole  new generation of 'bridge-builders' for understanding and reconciliation  between people and nations." (359 words)

The full text of Dr Noko's statement is available on the LWF Web site at:  http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Statement_Obama_NobelPP.pdf

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(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 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.)

[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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