wfn.org | LWI Council Press Release No.01-2009 LWF Council Opening Worship Emphasizes Impact of Human Traffick

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*(Please note series number of previous press release on
Assembly site, should read "LWI 2009-058 LWF Eleventh Assembly
Web Site Launched." )

>LWI Council Press Release No. 01-2009

LWF Council Opening Worship Emphasizes Impact of Human
Trafficking
Call for Vigorous Action against This Form of Injustice 

GENEVA, 22 October 2009 (LWI) - A colorful worship service this
morning marked the opening of the 2009 meeting of the Council of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at Chavannes-de-Bogis, near
Geneva, Switzerland. 

"Upholding Human Dignity: Confronting Human Trafficking" is the
theme of this year's meeting. There are 165 participants at the
22-27 October meeting including representatives from LWF member
churches and partner organizations, invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

During the service, Ms Dagmar Magold, president of the Council
host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in
Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein (BELK), Rev.
Lusmarina Campos Garcia, of the English-speaking congregation of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva (ELCG) and Rev. Marc
Blessing from the ELCG's German-speaking congregation confronted
Council members with the situation of boat refugees, illegal
immigrants, slave laborers and forced sex workers. Both Lutheran
churches are members of BELK.

They recalled that according to Christian belief, God encounters
people through those who are mistreated and oppressed. “God
weeps with those who cry,” Magold and Blessing said, "God is at
the side of those who are imprisoned, voiceless and terrified
with fear." 

Citing a newspaper report, they noted that within ten months,
humanitarian organizations had identified 19 cases of modern
slavery in the Swiss canton of Vaud alone. This included women
who are forced into prostitution, as well as men who are lured by
false promises and then sequestered, disenfranchised, threatened
and exploited as forced laborers. 

Forced sex workers are beaten, drugged and threatened with
death. Often they are sold from one place to another in order to
maintain their dependence, isolated from colleagues and placed
under constant supervision, the church representatives pointed
out at the opening worship service, and called for vigorous
action against this form of injustice. They emphasized the fact
that various biblical texts described similar examples of
oppression and the comfort and liberating power of God.

After the opening worship, LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, officially opened the
Council meeting. The Council continues its business, whose agenda
includes a closed session on the presentation of the report of
the LWF Search Committee for a new general secretary.

Further highlights on this year's Council agenda include action
on the president’s address and reports of the general secretary
and treasurer. The governing body will also receive and act on
the report of the LWF Renewal Committee, as well as on reports
from the respective program committees later in the week. A
plenary on human trafficking is scheduled for Friday, 23 October.
A morning prayer on Climate Action on 24 October will mark the
International Day of Climate Change Action, which will include an
invitation to Council members to join in a global action, aimed
at reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere to 350 parts per
million. (498 words)

*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations are attending this year’s Council meeting at
Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants include invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

The 49-member Council is the LWF’s governing body, meeting
every 12-18 months 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 as well
as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF
regions. 

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has
6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It
is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

>For media related queries, please contact:

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION 
>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 
>Editor’s E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

At Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, Tel. +41/22-960 81 81
Mobile Tel. +41/76 396 2863

*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations are attending this year’s Council meeting at
Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants include invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

The 49-member Council is the LWF’s governing body, meeting
every 12-18 months 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 as well
as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF
regions. 

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has
6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It
is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

>For media related queries, please contact:
>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION 
>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 
>E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

At Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, Tel. +41/22-960 81 81
Mobile Tel. +41/76 396 2863

*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations are attending this year's Council meeting at
Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants include invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

The 49-member Council is the LWF's governing body, meeting every
12-18 months 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 as well
as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF
regions. 

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has
6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It
is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

>For media related queries, please contact:

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION 
>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 
>Editor’s E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

At Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, Tel. +41/22-960 81 81
Mobile Tel. +41/76 396 2863