wfn.org | WARC and LWF seek closer cooperation

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

Leuenberg Agreement paves the way for church fellowship

GENEVA, 23 November 1998 (lwi) - On the occasion of Reformation Day, the
general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Ishmael Noko and
the World Association of Reformed Churches (WARC) general secretary Milan
Opocensky, supported proposals for measures that should be taken to foster
common identity between the two church bodies.

During a seminar held at the John Knox Center in Geneva to commemorate the
signing of the Leuenberg Agreement 25 years ago, Noko said theological
education is one of the areas where cooperation can already be developed
or strengthened between the two church communions.

The LWF general secretary also backed earlier suggestions that in the
future, themes for assemblies could be chosen jointly, participation of
ecumenical partners in meetings and consultations should be widened and
the cabinets of the two organizations should occasionally meet jointly.

Opocensky supported Noko's proposals. The WARC general secretary said that
a "kairos" (a time of opportunities) exists in the relationship between
the Reformed and Lutherans. He also backed the proposal to establish a
joint working group that will evaluate the Lutheran-Reformed relations on
the global level. Indeed far-reaching agreements, such as the Leuenberg
Agreement and the Formula of Agreement in the USA can only be underlined.

Noko congratulated the John Knox Center on the initiative to focus on
Lutheran-Reformed relations. The Leuenberg Agreement is deeply rooted in
European history, he continued and recalled that 25 years ago the level of
suspicion was still high between Eastern and Western Europe. It was in
this context that the Lutheran and Reformed churches in central Europe met
on the Leuenberg near Basel to establish a partnership which helped
overcome national and political borders.

With regard to the LWF, the general secretary recalled the year 1984 in
which the member churches resolved to be in altar and pulpit fellowship
with each other. On that basis, the LWF constitution was changed in 1990,
calling the LWF "a communion of churches".

According to Noko, this means that the churches are not only individually
but also jointly accountable for ecumenism. "Would the World Association
of Reformed Churches be able to move similarly in the direction of being a
communion of Reformed churches?" he asked.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/