wfn.org | ELCA Presiding Bishop Elected LWF President

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 28, 2003

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elected LWF President
03-148-LWF*/JB

	WINNIPEG, Canada (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected president
of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) July 26. He was elected on the
first ballot, receiving 267 votes to 111 votes for the only other nominee,
the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, vice-president of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada (ELCIC). The vote was by secret, written ballot.
	Hanson, who was elected to a six-year term as ELCA presiding bishop
in
2001, will continue in that role.  The six-year term he will serve as LWF
president is a volunteer position and will be in addition to his
responsibilities as ELCA presiding bishop.
	As LWF president, he chairs LWF Council meetings, the LWF
Assembly, and, in consultation with the LWF General Secretary, LWF Council
and other leaders, the president speaks publicly about topics and issues
of concern to the LWF.
	Upon his election, Hanson said he accepts the office "with a great
spirit
of humility. ... The task for me," he declared, "is to listen, to lead by
learning and accompanying you." He encouraged the representatives of LWF
member churches to "challenge, encourage, correct me ... I lead not apart
but with you."
	Hanson said he hoped he never forgets his 22 years as a parish pastor
where the centerpiece of ministry is Word and Sacrament, and so it should
continue to be for the LWF communion, he said.
	At a news conference immediately following his election, Hanson
declared
that the new office will allow him to speak even more publicly, with
Lutherans throughout the world, about the economic and military dominance
of the United States. But, he added, "The voice of the communion should
speak, not just its president."
	On his hopes for dialogue with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
(LCMS)
and the Roman Catholic Church, Hanson said that he is committed to
continuing conversation with both bodies. He said he looks forward to the
second round of conversations with the International Lutheran Council in
Finland next year, and said, "Large churches shouldn't use emerging
churches as pawns in power struggles for Lutheran control."
	With regard to the Roman Catholics, Hanson said, "I'm very heartened
...
We are just beginning to experience the fruits of the Joint Declaration on
the Doctrine of Justification, beginning to do catechetical work, and are
now in the difficult dialogue on ecclesiology and nature of ministry. It's
remarkable we've come this far." He expressed the hope that Catholics and
Lutherans could collaborate in some fashion to celebrate the 500th
anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
	When asked about his plans to encourage the full and equal role of
women
in LWF deliberation and actions, he stated, "As men and as men in
leadership, we need to be silent and listen to women and to let women
lead." Yet he pointed to the need for sensitivity to each church's
historical context, culture and history.
	Hanson declared his commitment to discussions among Lutherans that
will
include all points of views. "We should continue amongst ourselves lively
conversations about what it means to be Lutheran."
	Hanson is the eleventh person to hold the position of LWF President
since
the Federation was founded in 1947. He will succeed Bishop Emeritus of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick, Germany, Dr Christian Krause,
whose term expires at the conclusion of the Assembly July 31.
	A president of the LWF serves a six-year term, from assembly to
assembly.
The holder of this position represents one
of the seven regions of the Federation namely, Africa, Asia, Central
Eastern Europe, Central Western Europe, Nordic Countries, Latin America
and the Caribbean, and North America. Krause was elected at the 1997
Assembly held in Hong Kong, China.
	None of the other six LWF regions nominated a candidate. Hanson
was elected LWF vice president for North America at the September 2002 LWF
Council meeting in Wittenberg, Germany. He serves on the LWF Council and
Executive Committee. He is a member of the executive board of the National
Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.
	The LWF Assembly also formally elected 48 nominees to the LWF
Council,
representing the seven LWF regions.  Elected to represent the North
America region were four clergy: the Rev. Emmanuel Grantson and the Rev.
Barbara Rossing, both from the United States; from Canada, the Rev.
Raymond Schultz and the Rev. David Pfrimmer. One lay person was elected:
Abigail Zang from the United States.
	The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is taking
place
here July 21-31, under the theme "For the Healing of the World." It is
being hosted by the ELCIC.
	There are almost 700 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth
Assembly including 356 delegates from the 133 churches with full
membership and three associate members. The Assembly is the highest
decision-making body of the LWF, and meets normally every six years.
Between Assemblies the LWF is governed by its Council that meets annually,
and by its Executive Committee.

*Information was provided by the Lutheran World Federation Office of
Communication Services.

More information about the LWF Tenth Assembly can be found at
http://www.lwf-assembly.org on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news