wfn.org | Noko hopes for possible worldwide Anglican-Lutheran agreement

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

LWF general secretary greets Lambeth Conference

CANTERBURY, England/GENEVA, 30 July 1998 (lwi) - A possible worldwide
Anglican-Lutheran agreement of full communion would be a "natural next
step," according to Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary
Ishmael Noko. In his greeting to the 13th Lambeth Conference meeting in
Canterbury, England, 19 July to 9 Aug., Noko referred to the Porvoo
agreement between Anglicans and Lutherans in Great Britain and the Nordic
and Baltic countries. "It is my sincere hope that similar agreements of
communion can also become a reality soon in North America and then also in
Africa," he continued.

To explore the possibilities for such a step, Noko called for the
re-convening of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission (ALIC).

Noko also addressed the present status of the "Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification" between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. It is
still not clear, he explained, "whether the Joint Declaration can be the
object of a joint ecumenical confirmation, as the Roman Catholic Church has
expressed some reservations on significant elements of the Declaration."
Nevertheless, the progress already achieved in this dialogue is of great
importance, Noko emphasized.

A major ecumenical task lies ahead "to continue exploring the significance
of the doctrine of justification for other central issues in the church,
such as ministry, sacraments, authority in the church and pressing ethical
concerns of today," Noko noted.

Special reception for "Porvoo bishops"

More than 50 people attended a reception and program on July 23 to welcome
the three Lutheran bishops from the Nordic countries who, for the first
time, are members of the Lambeth Conference: Finnish Archbishop John
Vikstrom from Turku, Oslo's Bishop Andreas Aarflot from Norway and Swedish
Bishop Jonas Jonson from Strangnas.

According to a press release from the Lambeth conference, Archbishop
Vikstrom said: "The establishment of the Porvoo Communion is one of the
most important ecumenical steps of this century. We believe it is a gift to
the whole church." Bishop Aarflot noted, "There are many things we have
learned we can do more effectively together than separately."

Although none of the bishops of the Baltic nations are present at Lambeth
'98, Bishop Jonson asserted: "We must not forget the inclusion of the
Baltic Churches, which have been so isolated through the Cold War. Porvoo
lends a dynamic of great significance in our own relationships," he said.
He went on to say that the future importance of the Porvoo Declaration will
be lived out in places such as Tanzania and Zimbabwe where the Lutheran
churches have a Swedish character. "The question now," he said, "is how
these churches will relate to the provinces of the Anglican communion."

But Porvoo breaks new ground that can serve as a catalyst for ecumenical
relations worldwide, according to Archbishop Vikstrom. "I hope it will
inspire and encourage the whole ecumenical movement at the end of this
century when it faces such serious threat," he said.

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