wfn.org | LWF at German Protestant churches' fair

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

"Kirchentag" marks 50 years

STUTTGART, Germany/GENEVA, 16 June 1999 (lwi) - The Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) will be one of the organizations represented at this
year's "Kirchentag" of the Protestant churches in Germany, which takes
place from 16 to 20 June 1999 in Stuttgart.

For three days, the LWF will be presented under different themes as
follows: Thursday 17 June - "Child Soldiers in Liberia"; Friday 18 June
- "Mozambique" while Saturday 19 June will be dedicated to "Bosnia and
Croatia". Photographs and demonstrations by the LWF Department for World
Service (DWS) will be available at the stand. The LWF site and the
"ecumenical coffee house next door are possible meeting places for
representatives of LWF member churches who will be visiting the
"Kirchentag".

At the LWF stand, former beneficiaries of the German National
Committee/LWF scholarships, will provide information about the program.
Staff of the LWF in Germany as well as from Geneva will receive guests
from LWF member churches to the stand, and discuss with them about their
various activities and LWF projects or invite them to the "ecumenical
coffee house" for further discussions and follow-up of the "Kirchentag".

The 1999 event is also an opportunity for the "Kirchentag" to reflect on
its 50- year history. Established by Reinhold von Thadden-Trieglaff, on
31 July 1949, the "Kirchentag" as stated in its constitution, is a lay
movement which aims to strengthen Christians in their faith, equip them
for responsibilities in the church, empower them for witness in the
world and keep them in the worldwide community of Christians. An
estimated 100,000 mainly young people are expected to visit this year's
"Kirchentag".

The "Kirchentag" takes place every two years in a different German city.

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