wfn.org | The LWF Is a Communion - 'Which is Much More than a Federation'

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

LWF General Secretary Ishmael Noko Proposes LWF Name Change

GENEVA, 29 August 2001 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) 
general secretary, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko has proposed a discussion to
find an appropriate name that accurately reflects the nature of the
LWF as a communion. "To continue describing the LWF in federal terms
is no longer accurate," says Noko in an interview with Lutheran World
Information (LWI).

Noko points out that the LWF was begun in 1947 "as a free association
of autonomous churches worldwide, with the aim "to promote global,
multicultural Lutheran fellowship."

Over the last 54 years, bonds of fellowship have been nurtured and
strengthened and a new sense of togetherness and mutuality in mission
has developed, he says.

The new "ecclesial reality developed among the member churches," is
expressed in the declaration of mutual altar and pulpit fellowship at
the Seventh LWF Assembly in Budapest, Hungary in 1984 says Noko. He
notes that in 1990 the Eighth Assembly declared the LWF a communion
of churches. "This is a communion - which is much more than a
federation!" Noko adds.

The Assembly is the LWF's highest decision-making body, meeting every
six years. The Ninth Assembly was held in Hong Kong, China in 1997.
The Tenth assembly will take place in Winnipeg, Canada in 2003.

At its June 2001 meeting, the LWF Council asked the general secretary
to appoint a task force that would explore various aspects related to
a possible name change of the federation that might better express
its current nature as a communion.

Concerning the future ecumenical role of the World Council of
Churches (WCC) the LWF general secretary advocates the call for
broader conciliar forms of church fellowship, which today "may be
possible in ways we would not have thought of some years ago." The
relationship between the different Christian world communions has
matured to such an extent "that we can speak face to face," Noko
says.

Noko says the WCC, to which a majority of the LWF member churches
belong, "provides a framework in which to explore more substantially
what could be-in one form or another-a universal Christian council."
Such a development would be seen as an important, new ecumenical
step, but one which is not "necessarily in itself a move toward the
definitive accomplishment of the ecumenical movement," he notes.

Asked whether it is realistic to envisage the Christian world
communions joining in coordinated or joint assemblies with the WCC,
the LWF general secretary stressed the need for a clear concept of
the role of the different communions and church families in the WCC
assemblies. It is Noko's understanding that internal constitutional
and organizational matters would be dealt with by the relevant bodies
within the respective structures of the confessional families while a
broad ecumenical assembly would devote "all our energy to a conciliar
purpose" involving common prayer, study and deliberation.

Following is the full text of the interview with LWF General
Secretary Ishmael Noko:

How Can the Lutheran Communion Best Fulfill Its Ecumenical Role?
Interview with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary,
Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko

LWI: At this year's meeting of the LWF Council you presented some
perspectives on important ecumenical issues for further discussion in
the Federation. Why did you choose this point in time?

Noko: The reason is quite simple. I see the present time as a kairos
- an important and promising moment - for the discussion of how we
should move ahead with our ecumenical partners in our quest for
unity. In this important matter we cannot move alone. We must be
ready to be involved, which requires that the wider ecumenical issues
are high on our own agenda.

LWI: You strongly emphasize the character of the LWF as a communion.
Is this not a way of maintaining a confessionalism that runs counter
to the nature of the ecumenical movement?

Noko: No, on the contrary. The LWF has always seen itself as very
much a part of the ecumenical movement. All the steps taken towards
its own "inner" unity and coherence are a contribution to the unity
of the one, universal church of Christ. "Internal" ecumenism within a
confessional church family cannot, and must not, be dissociated from
"external" ecumenism with other church families. The two are
inseparable, because Christian unity is God's gift in Christ and the
Holy Spirit, both within and among the churches. Needless to say, I
also regard the Lutheran tradition as explicitly ecumenical in its
basis and purpose.

LWI: As you are certainly aware, your proposal to change the name of
the Federation has given rise to considerable discussion. Why are you
so eager to pursue this?

Noko: Prior to the formation of the LWF in 1947, there was a
predecessor organization. Membership in the Lutheran World Convention
was limited to Europe and North America. When the LWF was founded in
Lund, Sweden, the founders expanded its membership beyond the "cold
regions" of Europe and North America. At the same time, there was a
noticeable shift from Convention to Federation. The LWF was
established as a free association of autonomous churches worldwide,
seeking to promote a global, multicultural Lutheran fellowship. The
member churches maintained contact with each other through various
instrumentalities, such as the Assemblies, the Executive
Committee/Council, the Secretariat, conferences, consultations, and
programs/projects for witness and service. Over the last 54 years,
bonds of fellowship have been nurtured and strengthened and a new
sense of togetherness and mutuality in mission has developed.
Relationships have been deepened: between different peoples and
cultures, women and men, young and old, rich and poor.
Cross-denominational and cross-cultural relations have improved
greatly reaching far beyond formal church structures to all people of
God. The new ecclesial reality developed among the member churches is
expressed in the declaration of mutual altar and pulpit fellowship at
the 1984 LWF Assembly. Six years later the Assembly declared the LWF
a communion of churches thus revising its constitution. To continue
describing the LWF in federal terms is no longer accurate. This is a
communion - which is much more than a federation! Let us now discuss
how we can find an appropriate name that accurately reflects this
reality.

LWI: The future ecumenical role of the World Council of Churches(WCC)
is being widely discussed. You affirm the importance of the WCC at
the present time. Could you elaborate?

Noko: I believe that at this stage of the ecumenical movement we are
in great need of a more developed form of what has traditionally been
called "conciliar fellowship." The call for broader conciliar forms
of church fellowship is not superseded by other, more recent models
of unity. It is something we need as much as ever, and which today
may be possible in ways we would not have thought of some years ago.
The relationship between the different Christian world communions has
matured to such an extent that we can speak face to face. We should
explore how this significant opportunity can be taken advantage of.
The question is whether the WCC is ready to assume the functions
required to fulfill its conciliar role. In my view, the WCC provides
a framework in which to explore more substantially what could be-in
one form or another-a universal Christian council. We would see such
a development as an important, new ecumenical step, but it is not
necessarily in itself a move toward the definitive accomplishment of
the ecumenical movement.

LWI: Is it realistic to think that the Christian world communions can
join in coordinated or joint assemblies with the WCC?

Noko: If some of our member churches wish to move towards a simpler,
more integrated structure of our different assemblies, then I think
that we should seriously explore how we might move in that direction.
I therefore welcome the Council's decision to undertake this together
with our ecumenical partners. What would be needed, is a clear
concept of the role of the different communions and church families
in the WCC assemblies. If we are to hold assemblies together with
other Christian world communions in the framework of WCC assemblies,
we should not bring with us to such events our internal
constitutional and organizational matters. These would need to be
dealt with by the relevant bodies within our own structures. At a
broad ecumenical assembly we should devote all our energy to a
conciliar purpose, which would involve common prayer, study and
deliberation.

LWI: The Roman Catholic Church does not appear to be ready to join
the WCC. Does this not pose a major obstacle to broadening the scope
of the assemblies?

Noko: We understand the difficulties pertaining to the Roman Catholic
Church's membership in the WCC. While there is no way of rushing this
issue, I very much hope that the day will come when the Roman
Catholic Church can fully participate in the life of the WCC. The
Roman Catholic Church is already represented at the WCC assemblies. I
believe that if the emphasis is on the conciliar, deliberative and
celebrative aspects, it should be possible to accommodate the Roman
Catholic Church. I am not expecting the WCC to evolve into a
super-church. What is needed is a framework in which as many
Christian traditions as possible can meet for a generous, mutual
sharing of gifts. I see no reason why we cannot move further in this
direction. Regarding the Lutheran approach, the LWF Council has
agreed to my proposal to establish a task force which will work on
this matter and report to the Council next meeting in September 2002.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 133
member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5 million of the
nearly 64.3 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
acknowledgment.]

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