wfn.org | Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister calls Joint Declaration significant

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

An opportunity to focus on new thought patterns

WITTENBERG, Germany/GENEVA, 25 October 1999 (lwi) -The confirmation of
the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" in Augsburg by
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Roman Catholic Church on 31
October 1999 is not only significant for the unity of the Church of
Christ but it also provides an opportunity to focus on new patterns of
thinking at the threshold of a new millennium.

The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt Dr. Reinhard Hoeppner made these
remarks during a press conference organized by the Conference of
International Black Lutherans (CIBL) which is meeting at the Martin
Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, for the first time in the city of
the Reformation, since the international body was founded in 1986. The
conference began on 25 October and ends on 31 October 1999.

Dr. Hoeppner said it was an honor for the city and region to host such a
meeting particularly coming at the end of the second millennium and the
eve of a new one. He at the same time appreciated the fact that it is
ten years since the Berlin Wall came down ending the divide between East
and West Germany.

During the press conference which was also addressed by the Lord Mayor
of Wittenberg, Mr. Eckhard Naumann and representatives of CIBL, the
Prime Minister also spoke of the relevance of Luther*s message of
justification, saying it should be a source of encouragement for
Christians in particular as they enter the new millennium.

CIBL comprises black Lutheran theologians both clergy and lay from
Africa, North America and the Caribbean. Its first meeting in Harare,
Zimbabwe reflected on "The Meaning of the Lutheran Heritage and the
Black Experience in Africa and North America". The second conference,
held in 1996 in Zimbabwe*s second city, Bulawayo, addressed the
topic:"Poverty and Plenty - Bridging the Gap". The aim then was to share
the various gifts of the participants as well as their understanding of
the Christian faith and its African and Lutheran expressions when
dealing with the issues of poverty and plenty.

And when the Prime Minister greeted the CIBL participants meeting in
Wittenberg, he emphasized that this is the first time the group was
meeting in the place where the history of the Reformation began nearly
500 years ago. "Coming back to Wittenberg means coming back to our
faith," he told the conference participants.

Prime Minister since 1994, Hoeppner is a mathematician who has been
actively involved in church work particularly regarding the questions of
peace, justice and preservation of the creation. Since the early 70s, he
has been a member and from 1984 to 1994 chairperson of the synod of the
Protestant church of the church province of Saxony.

He said one of the questions he often asks himself in his current
position is "the significance of my faith in the context of the various
changes taking place in politics" and the world in general. His
challenge to CIBL participants who include lay and ordained Lutheran
theologians was: "Even though the situations in our continents differ
what can we do as Christians to help people overcome the problems they
are faced with?"

In a world where there is lessening solidarity between rich and poor,
North and South, young and old, the Prime Minister said it is important
that the CIBL meets in Germany, particularly to emphasize to Europe that
Africa, more often than not being described as "the forgotten continent"
should not be forgotten and it is indeed a continent like the others.

Hoeppner also paid tribute to women, saying he greatly valued their
contribution in the church and society, and often marveled at their
strength not just in his own local context especially with the changes
after 1989 in Europe, but worldwide. Women he said "are strong in times
of transformation and flexible in responding to changes. We need them to
cope with all the important changes in our world today."

The conference has been organized by CIBL, the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) Department for Mission and Development (DMD) and the Luther in
Saxony-Anhalt (LUISA).The latter is a state-owned non-profit
organization founded in 1995, the year before the 500th anniversary of
Martin Luther with the aim to develop the themes of Luther and the
Reformation in a post-communist era.

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 58 million of the world*s 61.5 million Lutherans. It
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and its Executive Committee.)

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