wfn.org | LWI Council Press Release No. 13/2009 LWF General Secretary-Elect Advocates Relationships That Enhan

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>LWI Council Press Release No. 13/2009

LWF General Secretary-Elect Advocates Relationships That Enhance
Sustainability 
Call to Keep Ecumenism Alive

GENEVA, 28 October 2009 (LWI) - The General Secretary-elect of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) sees sustainability as one of
the major challenges for the global Lutheran communion. "It is
not only about finances, but it has to do with the quality of
relationships outside and within the LWF," said Rev. Martin
Junge, elected on 26 October during the organization's Council
meeting at Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland.

"Communion is a concept about relationships, about strengthening
the reason to be. It is the gift of being able to meet, talk,
listen to stories and experiences, and have open encounters at
the table," Junge stressed, when he addressed a press conference
on 27 October. He outlined his vision for an LWF that continues
to affirm the relevance of churches in society especially for
people who are marginalized.

Responding to a question on whether the various positions of LWF
member churches on human sexuality could eventually lead to
division in the communion, the general secretary-elect underlined
that the LWF was already dealing with the issue. It was therefore
important to build up on the process instituted by the LWF
Council to facilitate discussion on this topic, Junge explained.

He pointed out that the "Proposed Guidelines and Processes for
Respectful Dialogue on Marriage, Family and Human Sexuality"
produced by a Council-appointed task force in 2007, offered both
theological insights and methodology in dealing with this
subject. From previous LWF encounters, documents and the current
Council meeting, "I perceive energy that the members [churches]
want to keep the unity and stay in the communion," he remarked.
He said he foresees "a strengthened LWF coming out of this
dialogue."

On LWF's engagement in ecumenical dialogues, Junge affirmed the
important ongoing work by the various dialogue groups and
commissions, saying, "We must keep ecumenism alive." 

He noted that as president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Chile (IELC) he had participated in the process which led to the
1999 signing of the document "Mutual Recognition of Baptism" by
the Roman Catholic Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Anglican
Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reformed churches, Methodist
Church and several Pentecostal churches. 

On the current global financial crisis, Junge said it was
especially important to assess the implications for "the moral
and social fabric of those who have been severely affected." Such
difficult times "call for mutual accountability and
responsibility, and solidarity," he said.

He said it was important to continue strengthening the LWF at
the grassroots not only at the global and regional levels but
also at the level of church members."

General secretary-elect Junge emphasized the important role of
communication, as already pointed out in various LWF processes
including a 2007 communication audit. "Communion without
communication is not sustainable," he said, adding the need to
take up this as a core issue in the LWF renewal process. 

He underscored the LWF itself "as an on-going process" with a
strong sense of passion for people, churches, peace,
reconciliation and justice. The task now, he added, was to see
"how to continue writing the story." 

Junge, 48, is currently area secretary for the Latin American
and Caribbean region at the LWF Department for Mission and
Development. He will succeed Zimbabwean theologian Rev. Dr
Ishmael Noko, who is scheduled to leave office at the end of
October 2010. (555 words)

More information on the 22-27 October LWF Council meeting is
available on the LWF Web site at: www.lutheranworld.org 

>*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations attended this year’s Council meeting at
Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants included 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.

>*      *      *

(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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