wfn.org | LWI 2009-059 LWF Congratulates Newly Elected Leader of German Protestant Church Body

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

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LWF Congratulates Newly Elected Leader of German Protestant
Church Body
Bishop Margot Kässmann Elected EKD Council Chairperson

GENEVA, 28 October 2009 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) extends warm congratulations to Bishop Dr Margot Kaessmann
upon her election today, 28 October, as chairperson of the
Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) Council. LWF General
Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko also congratulates Praeses
Nikolaus Schneider of the Evangelical Church of the Rhineland who
was elected council deputy chairperson.

Kaessmann, 51, currently bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Hanover, becomes the first woman to lead the umbrella
body of German Protestant churches.

In his congratulatory message, Noko noted that Kaessmann had
established an admirable record of leadership not only in her own
church but also in many international and ecumenical forums. 

"We have welcomed her important contributions to the work of the
LWF on a number of occasions," said Noko, pointing out that the
Hanover bishop gave the keynote address at the 2003 LWF Tenth
Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada.

In March this year, she welcomed Lutheran theologians from
around the world to Augsburg, Germany, where she reasserted the
importance of the Bible and prayer for the German churches, said
Noko, referring to the LWF international consultation under the
theme "Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches: Transformative
Perspectives and Practices Today." 

The general secretary praised Kaessmann for being "a provocative
public spokesperson for the importance of the Christian faith in
her own society and around the world. We look forward to
continuing to hear her voice in her new role."

He added, "The election sends a signal to the church worldwide
that God calls us to leadership without consideration of gender,
color or descent."

Welcoming Schneider's election, Noko said he had known him for
many years, and was "confident that he brings a very strong
ecumenical commitment into the leadership of the EKD." 

Members of the EKD synod and church conference elected Kaessmann
with a clear majority to succeed 67 year-old Bishop Dr Wolfgang
Huber of the Evangelical Church Berlin - Brandenburg - Silesian
Oberlausitz, who is retiring. She received 132 of the 142 votes
cast for EKD's leadership. Schneider was elected deputy
chairperson with a vote of 137 out of a total 142. 

The theme of the second session of the 11th EKD synod, held from
25 to 29 October in Ulm, southern Germany, focused on the
importance of voluntary commitment with respect to church and
society. 

The EKD brings together 22 Lutheran, Reformed and United
churches with some 25.4 million members. 

Kaessmann has been bishop of the Hanover church since 1999. The
church has around 3 million members and joined the LWF in 1947.
(445 words)

>*      *      *

(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 68.94 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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