wfn.org | LWF Council endorses 97 projects for USD 16.5 million

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

Increase in Africa, Asia due to large building projects
Release No.16/99

BRATISLAVA, Slovak Republic/GENEVA, 2 July 1999 (lwi) - The Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) Project Committee approved in 1999 a total of USD
16.5 million for 97 mission, communication and development projects
worldwide. The LWF Council affirmed this during its meeting in
Bratislava from 22 to 29 June 1999.

According to the LWF Program Committee for Mission and Development (DMD)
report to the Council, the Project Committee authorized staff to seek
funding up to USD 5.5 million for 28 projects in Africa, USD 6.3 million
for 31 projects in Asia, USD 1.4 million for 15 projects in Europe and
USD 3.1 million for 23 projects in Latin America. The total amount
requested reflects a significant increase for Africa and Asia mainly due
to applications for large building projects. In 1998, the LWF Project
Committee supported 112 projects worth USD 12 million in the four
regions.

Other actions by the Council included the acknowledgement of the
*Findings and Recommendations* of the LWF/DMD Consultation on Churches
in Mission, held in Nairobi in October 1998. Although the consultation
was not expected to provide immediate answers to complex missiological
problems and challenges, several recommendations concerning the
directions for the work of the LWF in the areas of theological study on
mission, partnership in mission and new approaches to mission were
formulated. Staff members were asked to facilitate the implementation of
the recommendations, especially the revision of the document, "Together
in God's Mission: An LWF Contribution to the Understanding of Mission."

On violence against women, the Council affirmed that all LWF member
churches would be encouraged to face this painful issue in all its
manifestations and that the DMD desk for Women in Church and Society
(WICAS) propose ways to accompany the churches in their efforts to
address this issue. The Council also accepted a proposal for the future
work of the LWF in the field of Christian education. In the area of
youth work, each member church was asked to designate a young person to
serve as a liaison with the DMD desk for Youth in Church and Society
(YICAS). Member churches were also reminded of the commitments of the
LWF's Seventh and Eighth Assemblies to lift up the concern of people
with disabilities.

In its report to the Council, the Program Committee for Theology and
Studies (DTS) reported on the results of its reflections on one of the
highlights of the General Secretary's report to the Council this year  
that the use of violence is not conducive to peace. Referring to the
question of a *just war* which has been addressed in the 1993 DTS
series, "War, Confession, Conciliarity - What does Just War in the
Augsburg Confessions Mean Today?" the LWF would make a specifically
Lutheran contribution in the dialogue with member churches, raise its
voice and take an unambiguous position. Other issues discussed by the
committee included the LWF president's views on a culture of
hospitality, remembrance and mercy as presented in his address to the
Council meeting, and a planned publication on the understanding and role
of theology in the LWF.

The LWF Council meeting, acting on the report of the Program Committee
for World Service reaffirmed its commitment of the Hong Kong Assembly
that all member churches be encouraged to continue their involvement and
commitment in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL),
including political involvement and operational programs of humanitarian
demining, with the goal of the total elimination of landmines from the
earth. The LWF will encourage all member churches to support and
participate in initiatives and networks working towards reducing the
proliferation of small arms including the International Action Network
on Small Arms Transfer (NISAT) among others.

Regarding the situation in Angola, the LWF urged member churches to
build awareness of civil war situation in Angola, which has received
little media attention and inadequate international humanitarian
response. The Council also affirmed that the LWF will continue to
promote international awareness of the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) as a service development issue and advocate for
additional funds for developing countries to enable them to adequately
address this devastating epidemic. In 1999, the LWF Department for World
Service (DWS) budget for 21 development and rehabilitation programs and
projects worldwide was USD 38.8 million. In addition USD 21.3 million
was made available for emergency relief measures.

Apart from the action on the signing of the "Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification" between the LWF and the Roman Catholic
church, (See Release No.13/99), the LWF Council took other actions in
view of proposals presented before it by the Standing Committee for
Ecumenical Affairs. It was recommended that the LWF participate in the
ongoing exploration and discussion regarding the proposal for a forum of
Christian churches and ecumenical organizations. On relationships
between World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian World
Communion (CWCs), the Council asked the LWF to continue its efforts to
strengthen cooperation between the WCC and CWCs in general, and that the
LWF seek to initiate direct dialogue with the WCC on future relations
and patterns of cooperation between both organizations.

Other items for action included the future participation of Lutheran
churches in assemblies of international church organizations, the WCC
initiative to search for a practice of a common date for Easter, the
provision of a reliable financial basis for the Institute for Ecumenical
Research, Strasbourg and documentation on the Lutheran Orthodox Joint
Commission.

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