wfn.org | Lutheran woman church leader runs for president in Austria

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Strict separation between church and state called for

VIENNA, Austria/GENEVA, March 10, 1998 (lwi) - Austrian Lutheran church
supervisor, Gertraud Knoll, publicly announced her intention to run for
president of Austria, Feb. 27.  The 39-year-old Knoll was the first woman
to be called to the office of "superintendent" in the Evangelical Church of
the Augsburg Confession in Austria (ECACA), in 1994.

After a lengthy period of reflection, Knoll decided to stand as a candidate
with no political party affiliation. According to the Austrian press, she
can expect wide support. In addition to politicians from the
social-democratic and Green parties, artists such as Andre Heller, and
personalities from the fields of trade and economy, are behind her. In
Austria, it is presumed that the president in office, Thomas Klestil, will
be forced into a second ballot.

At a press conference, Knoll, the mother of three children, stated that she
is running for president to "bring more warmth into politics in this
country".

In a first statement, the ECACA leadership underlines that it has full
respect for Knoll's decision. Austria needs people in all areas who feel
responsible toward society, to stand up for people, and have visions for a
more just future, it says. The church's leadership pleads strongly for a
strict separation between church and state. Knoll is running not as a
supervisor of the Lutheran church but as a Christian and committed citizen,
the statement says. During which time, she will exercise no ecclesial
functions.

According to the Lutheran church's constitution: "...exercising a political
mandate or function on a national and regional level..." is incompatible
with carrying out the ordained ministry. In addition, Paragraph 25.2
providing for the period of the electoral campaign, states: "If an
office-bearer of the church applies for one of the mandates, his/her
function in the church is held in abeyance from the moment his/her
candidacy is submitted to the electoral authorities until the official
results of the election are announced." During such a suspension from
office the applicant receives no emolument from the church.

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