wfn.org | 16 Lutheran candidates for elections in Brazil

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

Full spectrum of political parties represented

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil/GENEVA, 28 September 1998 (alc/lwi) - In the Brazilian
states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, and Espirito Santo, at
least 16 Lutherans will run in national elections next October 4.

Unlike the Pentecostal churches, the church that the candidates belong to,
the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession of Brazil (IECLB), does
not explicitly support any candidate.

"The IECLB understands that political responsibility corresponds to
Christian citizens. The Church is concerned with encouraging the greatest
number of people possible to participate in politics," IECLB President
Huberto Kirchheim told the Brazilian church paper Jornal Evangelico
Luterano.

The only Lutheran woman candidate, Simone Schramm, is seeking to be a state
deputy in Joinville. Pastors Helio Schaidhauer Pacheco and Genesio Bobsin
are running for the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul and the
Federal Chamber respectively. Both are running on a leftist Workers' Party
ticket, while Lutheran lay people are on center and right-wing party
slates.

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