wfn.org | LWF and ILC Agreed on Further Joint Conversations

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

LWF and ILC Agreed on Further Joint Conversations
Symposiums Planned on Issues of Faith and Life

JAERVENPAEAE, Finland/GENEVA, 16 December 2003 (LWI) - The
Executive Committee of the International Lutheran Council (ILC)
and representatives of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have
agreed that further contacts should be maintained and
conversations be held between both organizations. This would
enable the ILC and LWF to deal with different areas of
theological agreements and disagreements between their respective
churches. 

The ILC and LWF affirmation is contained in a joint communiqui
following their October 30-November 2 meeting in Jaervenpaeae,
Finland, under the theme "What unites us? What divides us?" A
first similar meeting took place in November 2002 in Geneva,
Switzerland.

In the joint communiqui, the ILC and LWF stated their agreement
to convene a small group of representative from each organization
to "take into consideration tensions resulting from activities,
statements or policies of churches of the two organizations or
agencies related to them."

It was agreed that the ILC and LWF consider hosting joint
symposiums on issues of faith and life that affect Lutherans and
other people throughout the world. Both organizations, and /or
their member churches, it was noted, should be encouraged to
invite observers to each other's official meetings and
consultations. Their member churches, stated the joint
communiqui, should be encouraged to seek or improve positive
relations in their respective regions and cooperate wherever
possible in local events, public issues, outreach endeavors, and
provision of human care. 

The ILC has 29 member churches with a combined membership of
some 3.3 million people. The LWF has 136 member churches in 76
countries, representing 61.7 million of the 65.4 million
Lutherans worldwide. Nine Lutheran churches have membership both
in the LWF and ILC. (290 words)

The full text of the joint communiqui following the ILC and LWF
meeting in Finland follows:

Meeting between the ILC and the LWF
Jaervenpaeae, Finland, 30 October - 2 November 2003

COMMUNIQUE

The Executive Committee of the International Lutheran Council
(ILC) and representatives of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
met in Jaervenpaeae, Finland, from 30 October to 2 November 2003.
The theme was "What unites us? What divides us?" 

The meeting took place in a cordial and constructive atmosphere,
which enabled clear and frank discussion and followed the tone
set by an initial meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 July to
1 August 2002.

ILC Executive Secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Nafzger and LWF General
Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko made presentations focusing on a
Lutheran understanding of the authority of Holy Scripture, what
is meant by subscription to the Lutheran Confessions and how
Article VII of the Augsburg Confession is understood and
practiced. 

All participants reflected on core issues from their own
experiences or perspectives concerning Lutheran church life and
relations between churches belonging to the ILC and/or the LWF in
their regions. 

It was apparent that formal acceptance of the biblical and
confessional writings has not led to agreement in all matters of
faith and life. The representatives from both organizations
expressed recognition that the confession of faith they hold in
common includes the belief that the Holy Scriptures are the only
rule, source and norm of faith, doctrine, life, service and
practice and that the Lutheran Confessions are correct and pure
expositions of the Scriptures. 

They affirmed their gratitude for the God-given blessing they
share as members of the Body of Christ, the One Holy Christian
C
hurch confessed in the Ecumenical Creeds. However, the meeting
recognized and identified significant and deeply held areas of
theological disagreement that remain among the churches of the
two worldwide Lutheran organizations.

It was agreed that further contact should be maintained and
conversations held, enabling the ILC and the LWF to deal with
different areas of theological agreements and disagreements
between churches of both organizations. Specifically, it was
agreed that the
 
1. ILC Executive Secretary and the LWF General Secretary will
convene a small group of representatives from each organization
to take into consideration tensions resulting from activities,
statements or policies of churches of the two organizations or
agencies related to them;
2. ILC and the LWF should consider hosting joint symposiums on
issues of faith and life that affect Lutherans and people
throughout the world;
3. ILC and the LWF and/or their member churches should be
encouraged to invite observers to each other's official
meetings and consultations;
4. ILC and the LWF should encourage their member churches to
seek or improve positive relations in their respective regions
and to cooperate wherever possible in local events, public
issues, outreach endeavors, and provision of human care.

The ILC Executive Secretary and the LWF General Secretary were
asked to continue their contact and prepare for the
implementation of the agreements reached.

The participants joined in daily morning and evening prayers. On
Friday 31 October the Morning Prayer celebrated Reformation Day.
On Saturday 1 November, All Saints' Day, the participants were
present as invited guests for worship in the (Lutheran) Helsinki
Cathedral. The service was presided over by the Bishop of
Helsinki, Dr Eero Huovinen, a Vice President of the LWF, who
visited and addressed the meeting the same evening.

Archbishop Jukka Paarma of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Finland also visited and greeted the meeting. In addition, Acting
Director Mr Leo Siliamaa and Rev. Dr Tapio Leskinen from
FinnChurchAid provided information on the work of their agency.

The ILC and the LWF have members around the world. Each seeks to
promote cooperation and fellowship among its member churches.
Nine Lutheran churches are members of both organizations. The LWF
Council and Assembly and the ILC Conference have encouraged
ongoing contact between the two global Lutheran bodies.

Present from the two organizations were:

ILC participants:
Rev. Dr Paul Kofi Fynn (President, Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Ghana); Rev. Dr Gerald Kieschnick (President, The Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod); Rev. Hong-Yeol Lee (President, Lutheran
Church in Korea); Rev. Dr Ralph Mayan (President, Lutheran Church
- Canada); Rev. Dr Samuel Nafzger (Executive Secretary, ILC);
Rev. Dr Diethardt Roth (Bishop, Independent Evangelical-Lutheran
Church [Germany]); and Rev. Dr Carlos Walter Winterle (President,
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil). Rev. Dr Hilbert W. Riemer
(Luther University/Seminary, Korea) served as interpreter for
President Lee. Rev. David Piso (Head Bishop, Gutnius Lutheran
Church, Papua New Guinea) was unable to attend.

LWF participants:
Rev. Dr Risto Cantell (Executive Director, Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland); Rev. Jon Enslin (Associate Director for
Ecumenical Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America);
Oberkirchenrdtin Rev. Kdte Mahn (German National Committee of the
LWF); Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko (General Secretary, LWF); Rev. Sven
Oppegaard (Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs,
LWF); Ms. Priscilla Singh (Secretary for Women in Church and
Society, LWF); Rev. Wayne Zweck (General Secretary, Lutheran
Church of Australia). Archbishop Nemuel Babba (Lutheran Church of
Christ in Nigeria) and Rev. Huberto Kirchheim (President
Emeritus, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in
Brazil) were unable to attend.

Mr Panu Pihkala (student of theology, Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland) served as steward for the meeting. 

Throughout the meeting, the participants were mindful of the
responsibility the two organizations share in the divine calling
to proclaim the gospel of God's grace in Christ, to be
instruments for the accomplishment of God's will for the world,
and to seek the unity of the Christian church (John 17). In this,
they remain committed to pray fervently for guidance and strength
from the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(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 inter-faith 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 an article contains the notation (LWI), the
material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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