wfn.org | (LWF) *Sister* Lutheran Bodies Call for Continued Dialogue

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

LWF Tenth Assembly, Winnipeg, Canada, 21-31 July 2003

PRESS RELEASE NO. 25

'Sister' Lutheran Bodies Call for Continued Dialogue to Overcome Differences
A Commitment to Work Together

WINNIPEG, Canada, 28 July, 2003 * Messages to the LWF Tenth Assembly from
"sister" Lutheran churches and organizations called for continued dialogue to
remove differences and to work together in their response to human suffering.

The General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), Dr Samuel
F. Nafzger, said the LWF and ILC had "much in common," including the name and
their Lutheran confessions.  But there were differences in their
"understanding of the authority of Scripture."	For these reasons, he said,
it is "critical to keep the lines of communication open and make every effort
to resolve those issues which impede the accomplishment of the work Christ
has given to bring healing to the broken world."  

A first meeting between representatives of the LWF and ILC took place in
Geneva in 2002. The next talks will be held in Helsinki, Finland, in November
2003. 

A message from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) expressed regret
that divisions and schisms "continue to impede our witness to this Gospel
message we are committed to bring to the world."  LCMS President Rev. Dr
Gerald B. Kieschnick pledged his church's commitment "to work together with
our brothers and sisters in Christ to resolve these differences."  

He said God calls the Church to respond to the varied and widespread needs
for healing, "ranging from illness and disease to human suffering and
violence to hunger and poverty."  Through the common organization, te
Lutheran World Relief, he hoped God will "cause us to see the pain and fear
in the eyes of those whom we serve."  There is no better healing than "that
the lives of many are transformed through Christ's love," he added.

The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is taking place
21-31 July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, under the theme "For the Healing of the
World." It is being hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
(ELCIC).

There are almost 800 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth Assembly
including 369 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. 

Further information including photos, video and audio news, is posted on the
Assembly Web site www.lwf-assembly.org

To order photographs, please contact LWF-Photo@lutheranworld.org

*	*	*

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.