wfn.org | Luther Exhibit to Highlight LWF Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg

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

Over 100 Books, Manuscripts, Paintings on Display

WINNIPEG, Canada/GENEVA, 15 July 2003 - A rare exhibit of Martin
Luther memorabilia will highlight the Tenth Assembly of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Winnipeg, 21-31 July 2003.

Items on display will feature over 100 books, manuscripts,
illustrations, paintings and documents visualizing the life of
this amazing man, whom Life magazine in 2000 ranked third among
the 100 most influential people of the past millennium.

The exhibit contains the first Bible printed by Johann Gutenberg
(the inventor of the printing press), illustrations by the
renowned medieval German artist Albrecht Durer, prints by Lucas
Cranach, manuscripts by Luther and a letter by his wife. Other
items include a replica of Luther's goblet, as well as paintings
of his parents and his closest associates.

This traveling exhibit is appearing in North America for the
first time. It is jointly sponsored and organized by the
Foundation for Luther Memorial Sites in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
and the Luther Center in Wittenberg, Germany. For security
reasons, the exhibit consists entirely of high-quality facsimiles
and copies.

Titled "Martin Luther: The Reformer," the exhibit portrays the
fascinating (and very human) life of this spiritual genius,
eloquent preacher, brilliant teacher and loving family man.

Born in Germany in 1483, Martin Luther gained world fame as the
leading reformer of the Christian church. As a theologian, he
helped to renew Western Christianity. As an author, translator
and poet, he also reformed the German language in ways that are
still noted today. His life is inseparably connected with the
Reformation, which was first experienced in Germany, then across
Europe and ultimately throughout the entire world. It is rare
that one person achieves such an effect in his lifetime and rarer
still that his influence is still felt nearly 500 years after his
death in 1546.

This display will be open at no charge to the public on the main
floor of the Winnipeg Convention Center July 21 at 6.30 p.m and
July 22-30 during the LWF Assembly.

There will be a media preview of the exhibit at the Convention
Center, July 21, 6.00 p.m.

(The Assembly host church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,
contributed this article).

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical and interfaith 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 LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where
the dateline of a article contains the notation (LWI), the
material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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