wfn.org | State President Rudolf Shuster pays tribute to LWF

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

Proud to be among churches
Press Release No. 09/99

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic, 24 June 1999 (lwi) - The Slovak Republic
President Rudolf Shuster was received with great applause by
participants in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council, meeting at
the Hotel Forum here from 22 to 29 June 1999.

Introducing the eagerly awaited guest to the 180 participants drawn from
all parts of the world, Bishop Julius Filo of the Evangelical Church of
the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic said the visit of the
head of state in the afternoon of 24 June was a great honor to the host
church and Christians in the country as well as to the LWF. He described
Shuster's election into office last October following countrywide
grassroots elections as historic, because this was the first time that
such a democratic process had taken place in the country.

The LWF general secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko, thanked the state president
for the opportunity to convene a Council meeting in the Slovak capital
and for ensuring that formalities in preparation for the meeting here
were made very easy.

Shuster said he was "proud" to be a guest of the Council and encouraged
the participants to visit other parts of the country. He also
congratulated the LWF president, Dr. Christian Krause, for the honorary
doctorate conferred upon him by the University in Bratislava. (See
Release No. 08/99)

Responding, Krause expressed his pride in wearing the "Slovak symbol"and
invited guests and Council participants to a toast "that the gospel of
hospitality will make us one in this honor."

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