wfn.org | Further consultation proposed on Joint Declaration

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

 between Catholics and Lutheran World Federation
LWF remains alert on importance of joint signature

GENEVA, 23 November 1998 (lwi) - The Executive Committee of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) has proposed that further consultation be
implemented before the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
between the Roman Catholic Church and the LWF can be signed.

During its 13 and 14 November meeting in Geneva, the LWF Executive
Committee said it considers the continued work on the joint declaration as
of high importance and will act upon the outcome of further consultation.

The committee underscored that there will be no changes to the basic Joint
Declaration document but appropriate advance information to the LWF member
churches would be given prior to any action of signing. The committee does
not also set any time limit to the joint action between the LWF and the
Catholics.

However, the committee noted that what may be generally interpreted as
delaying an act of joint confirmation does not in itself in anyway negate
the importance of the process, but confirms LWF's interest in safeguarding
that a possible joint signature can only take place if there is a common
understanding of what is being signed.

Addressing a press conference at the end of the Executive Committee
meeting, both the LWF President Christian Krause and General Secretary Dr.
Ishmael Noko stressed that a joint statement between the Vatican and the
LWF can take place only if there is a common understanding on what is
being signed.

Need to be sure about what is being signed

Responding to a question on what may be interpreted as delay in signing
the joint action, Bishop Christian Krause, who is also the chairman of the
Executive Committee noted; "It is of no use signing for the sake of
signature. We must be sober and clear about what we sign."

On the mood of the Executive Committee and whether there was any point of
conflict in the meeting, Bishop Krause said the discussions on the Joint
Declaration were very sober. He explained that there was unanimous
agreement on the position taken by the Executive Committee, in view of the
background that this was a follow-up phase to a letter which the LWF
general secretariat sent to various National Committee and member churches
last August. The committee, he noted, was acting in line with the
recommendations of the LWF member churches.

Noko was categorical that the crux of the matter is not the amount of time
taken before the joint declaration is signed. He said:" Justification is
one of the major criteria for Lutherans and it is important for us that a
common understanding of what we are signing be achieved. It is also
important for other ecumenical engagements."

He pointed out that it is crucial that the LWF and its constituencies take
the time that is necessary before a joint statement can be signed between
the LWF and the Catholic church.
"It is important that we take time to achieve what must be done without
violating the limits that are set by the Joint Declaration," Noko
stressed.

Discussing other matters, the LWF Executive Committee also decided to
reduce the coordination budget for 1999 adopted in June by the Council
from 15,186,500 to 14,670,950 Swiss Francs. This budgetary decision was
taken in view of the lower exchange rate of the US dollar to the Swiss
Franc and a decrease in interest rates. Other matters discussed included
workload assessment and priority setting in LWF as well as further steps
in stabilizing the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem.

The Executive Committee, chaired by the LWF President Bishop Christian
Krause comprises Bishop George Anderson (USA), Bishop Dr. Julius Filo
(Slovak Republic), Bishop Bela Harmati (Hungary), Ms Parmata Ishaya
(Nigeria), church president Huberto Kirchheim (Brazil), Dr. Prasanna
Kumari (India), LWF treasurer Dr. Sigrun Mogedal (Norway), Bishop Samson
Mushemba (Tanzania), Pastor Susan Nagle (USA) and Prof. Dr. Joachim Track
(Germany).

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