wfn.org | ACT commended by LWF Council

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

Concern expressed for Angola, Rwanda and Eritrea

GENEVA, 23 June 1998 (lwi) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council 16
June commended Action by Churches Together (ACT) for its past work in
responding to emergency situations. The council also endorsed ACT, a joint
responsibility of the LWF and the World Council of Churches (WCC), for the
future.

In approving a recommendation by the LWF World Service Program Committee,
the council voted to "observe with great satisfaction that ACT has been
viewed by the overwhelming majority of its members as successful" and to
"approve its affirmation to continue the ACT coordination office and
network as an effective ecumenical mechanism to assist in the relief of
human suffering."

The council also called for "continuing improvement of the ACT network" in
the areas of "governance, line management and structural expression." It
stressed the "need for capacity building in disaster relief by local
implementors."

In other LWF World Service-related matters, the council:

+    asked the LWF General Secretary to "explore ways to ensure that the
LWF assets in Eritrea continue to support the diaconical work of the
Evangelical Church of Eritrea and thus be utilized in beneficial ways for
Eritrean communities."

+    asked the LWF and its member churches and related agencies "to
advocate with governments for a consolidation of the peace process and for
resources to meet humanitarian needs in Angola."

+    recalled with deep regret the recent killings of LWF staff in Rwanda
and across the border in Tanzania, but reiterated that the federation
"continue to advocate for peace and stability in Rwanda by keeping an
active presence and involvement."

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/