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LWI News in Brief

Bavaria's First Woman Regional Bishop Installed

The new Munich regional bishop, Susanne Breit-Kessler (47), was installed at
a festive service on 25 March. The Protestant theologian, now responsible
for 600 000 Protestants in Munich and Upper Bavaria, is the first woman
bishop in Bavaria. In her inaugural sermon she appealed to Christians to
work actively for a "humane society". On the example of Jesus they should be
close to their fellow human beings in times of crisis.

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Lutherans Support Vision for Hope in Sierra Leone

Kadiatu Fofana is among victims of Sierra Leone's civil war who now live at
Aberdeen Road Amputee Camp in Freetown. The 42-year-old mother of nine is
convinced she can manage a small-scale food business similar to one she
operated before rebels attacked Freetown in January 1999. "They chopped both
my legs just below the knees," Fofana recalled. A micro-credit scheme of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone (ELCSL) enables groups of women
like Fofana to establish income-generating activities. The ELCSL receives
support from the Lutheran World Federation as well as from the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. The Sierra Leonean church also conducts trauma
counseling sessions. "We help them focus on hope," says ELCSL's Rev. Marie
Barnett who counsels girls and women. Barnett also coordinates a hot-meal
feeding program and fellowship on Sunday evenings.

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Lutheran Church Radio Program from Samara

A regular Lutheran radio program began broadcasting in Samara, Russia at the
beginning of 2001. For some time now Radio Seven transmits a one-hour
German-language program produced in conjunction with the regional center for
German culture. Following this recent development, the Evangelical Lutheran
congregation of St. George produces once a month its own 30-minute program
for Radio Seven. The programs are broadcast on FM and medium wave. The
congregation hopes to be able to reach non-church members as well.

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Leipzig Hosts LWF German National Committee  Language Course 

Eleven people from Central and Eastern Europe countries attended a four-week
language course organized by the German National Committee of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF).  The 15th German course that took place in Leipzig
at the beginning of the year was attended by staff from Lutheran minority
churches in Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia,
Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
"Through meeting congregations in Leipzig, visiting Luther sites and holding
discussions with representatives of church agencies the participants get an
impression of church life in eastern Germany," said Deacon Martin Herrbruck
from the Berlin office. Over 200 church staff persons have so far
participated in the language course since it was launched in 1986. The idea
of a regular language course was conceived at an LWF conference, according
to the national committee's executive secretary, OberkirchenrStin KSte Mahn
from Hanover. "An appeal was launched not to forget the minority churches,
to enable them to take part in international cooperation and overcome
language barriers as much as possible." "In addition, the German language
opens up access to theology in the country of Martin Luther's Reformation
and enables people to read German theological literature," she added. German
is one of the official languages of the LWF.

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Bouka-Coula, LWF Representative in Ethiopia

Dr. Colette Bouka-Coula has been transferred from the position of Regional
Expression Officer in Africa, Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for
Mission and Development (DMD) to that of LWF representative in Ethiopia for
the Department for World Service (DWS). Effective February 20, Bouka-Coula,
49, succeeded Mr. Jan Schutte who was acting director of the LWF/DWS program
in Ethiopia. Bouka-Coula is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Cameroon. She first joined the LWF in 1991 as DMD Assistant Secretary Africa
for Africa, a position she held for five years. She served as a member of
the LWF Council from 1990 to 1991. Her doctorate in literature includes
specialization in American Civilization and the Anglophone Third World. Mr.
Muloko Kongolo has replaced Bouka-Coula. Kongolo becomes the new manager of
the Nairobi, Kenya-based LWF Regional Office for Africa.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgement.]

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