wfn.org | (LWF) Lutheran Assembly Concludes with Message of Healing

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

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

PRESS RELEASE NO. 37

Lutheran Assembly Concludes with Message of Healing for the World
Conclave Focuses on Issues of Globalization, Human Sexuality, Violence and
the Environment 

WINNIPEG, Canada, 31 July 2003 - The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) concluded with one "Message" in many parts, all relating to
the gathering's theme "For the Healing of the World."

The ten-day meeting, which included 800 participants and visitors from over
70 countries, got off to a rocky start when more than 50 delegates from
developing nations were denied visas by the Canadian government. A high point
was a silent march from the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the Assembly venue,
culminating in a worship service at The Forks amphitheatre adjacent to the
Citizenship and Immigration Canada offices. 

Delegates worked into the evening hours on the final full day of the Assembly
to approve a document that summarizes the major areas of concern and provides
direction for the LWF's activities for the next six years -- until the next
Assembly.  

The "Message" acknowledges a "world in need of healing" and identifies areas
of special concern for member churches in the worldwide communion of nearly
62 million Lutherans. 

Among other actions called for in the Assembly's "Message:" 

*	Further exploration of what it means to be Lutherans "in communion,"
including the issues of the participation of Lutheran denominations not
currently LWF members; cross-cultural communication among Lutherans of
diverse backgrounds; promotion of the full inclusion of women and youth in
all aspects of the churc's life, with respect for differing cultural
understandings of ministry.  The Message of concern for healing within the
church extends beyond Lutheran boundaries to encourage ecumenical activity
and dialogue with many other churches, with special attention to ecumenical
pursuits in Africa, Asia, Central Eastern Europe and Latin America/Caribbean.
*	 The Message commits LWF members to remove barriers that exclude
people from "participating fully in the life that God envisions for all." 
These barriers include gender, race, ethnicity, class, nationality, caste,
sexual orientation, age and physical/mental condition.	The Assembly also
committed itself to supporting basic human rights for indigenous peoples.  In
reference to the visa issue, the Assembly singled out the Dalit people of
India, who were among those denied entry to Canada.  
*	The Message pledges members to enrich the church's healing ministries
by addressing HIV/AIDS, violence and poverty.  "Diakonia," or the servant
ministries of the church, are put forth as a fundamental dimension of the
church's life and part of its holistic healing ministry.
*	Justice and healing in families is addressed in the Assembly Message
and provoked lively discussion on the floor of the Assembly on the language
around issues of human sexuality and the definition of "family." The Message
encourages respectful dialogue on marriage, family and human sexuality "in a
manner appropriate to the needs of each member church." It also addresses the
experience of "spiritual poverty" within families and encourages resources
for addressing these needs.
*	The Message pledges to participate fully in the ecumenical "Decade to
Overcome Violence" in families, against women and against children, to
confront increasing militarism and the proliferation of weapons, advocate
against expressions of violence in the media and actively confront
expressions of religious fundamentalism in all faiths.	
*	The Assembly took a strong position on transforming economic
globalization in recognition o the churches' prophetic role in promoting
justice and human rights.  In particular, the Message addresses the growing
gap between rich and poor, the marginalization of Indigenous peoples, and the
international debt that has become an instrument of domination, especially in
poor nations.  The Message calls for the "development of an economy that
serves all of life."
*	 "The wounded creation is in desperate need of healing" states the
Message.  It challenges Lutheran Christians to be "God's creating, restoring,
sustaining hands on earth" and challenges practices that turn the gifts of
God's creation into commodities for profit, especially when that activity
impacts the poor.  It encourages members to work against climate change and
the consumption of fossil fuels, and to educate member communities on the
theology of creation.

The Message concludes in part, "The world in which we live still suffers
under the brokenness caused by sin; and people are victims of injustice and
the abuse of power. But in the midst of all suffering and injustice, God is
continuously at work, healing our world."

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 around 820 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth Assembly
including 380 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.