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

'Justified * Freed for Life,' Churches Called to Celebrate Joint Declaration
Locally
South African Celebrations to Mark 5th Anniversary of Lutheran-Roman Catholic
Agreement

GENEVA, 30 August 2004 (LWI) * The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) will jointly
celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on
the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) on 30 October 2004 with a festive
worship service in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

"We see the occasion of the Fifth Anniversary as an opportunity to draw on
the ecumenical resource that the agreement represents. It is also an
opportunity for churches and dioceses around the world to contribute to the
ongoing discussion of the issues and challenges still remaining," LWF General
Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko and PCPCU President Walter Cardinal Kasper,
state jointly in worship guidelines prepared for this year's celebration.

"Justified * Freed for Life" is the theme of the joint LWF and PCPCU
invitation to churches to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the JDDJ.
According to Noko and Kasper, "The anniversary day itself*31 October 2004*is
particularly appropriate for such ecumenical celebrations, locally as well as
at the diocesan and/or national levels." The churches are being urged to mark
this anniversary accordingly in their regions as well, which calls for
celebrations and renewed study around the world. 

The signing of the JDDJ on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg (Germany) will rightly
be remembered as the day when we as Lutherans and Catholics were able "to
state officially that there is a consensus between us on basic truths related
to the doctrine of justification." 

Noko and Kasper affirm in the proposed worship material for LWF Sunday this
year: "And we not only stated it, we rejoiced and celebrated, because, with
God's help, we could reach*not yet the final goal*but an important milestone
on our common pilgrimage to full, visible unity. We extended our hands to
each other and we are not willing to let them go again."

By signing the Joint Declaration, the representatives of the LWF and the
Roman-Catholic Church declared "that the mutual condemnations of the 16th
century in relation to justification do not apply to the Lutheran and
Catholic understandings presented in the Joint Declaration."

Noko and Kasper emphasize historic ecclesiological consequence of the signing
of the JDDJ as that "our communion has become more deep and real, although it
is still incomplete." The signing of the Joint Declaration made it possible
to "give common witness to the Gospel." According to both theologians, this
is highly important in today's world of growing secularization and loss of
the meaning of life. "In a world troubled by so many conflicts, Christians
must more than ever be able to testify together to peace and reconciliation,
which belong at the heart of the Christian message."

The October 30 celebrations in Johannesburg will take place in close
cooperation with the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) and the
South African Catholic Bishops' Conference. At a festive ceremony in the
afternoon, Noko and Kasper will deliver speeches, and greetings will be
received from local representatives of Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches.
A festive liturgy will be held in the Lutheran Church of Soweto. 

Through worship guideline materials proposed for this year's celebrations,
the LWF and PCPCU are jointly inviting all regions to mark the fifth
anniversary of the festive JDDJ full of joy. Both Noko and Kasper express
their hope that these events will "contribute to the continued positive
development of our ecumenical relations both locally and globally." Material
proposed for the festive worship in English, German, French and Spanish
language on the LWF Web site under:
www.lutheranworld.org/Essentials/LWF-Sunday.html .

A commemorative medal for the fifth anniversary of the signing of the JDDJ
will be minted in a strictly limited number. This medal (bronze, app.
diameter 7cm.) can be ordered at the price of CHF 88, EUR 57 or USD 69, plus
mailing costs. Please send your orders to the Lutheran World Federation,
Office for Communication Services, Ms Janet Bond Nash, 150 route de Ferney,
P.O. Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland. Fax: +41-22-791-66-30, E-mail:
jbn@lutheranworld.org

The following materials on the JDDJ are still available from the LWF: 

Justification in the World's Contexts (No. 45) published in the LWF
"Documentation" series 2000, is a theological working book, containing a
variety of essays that examine "justification today" in light of the world's
globalized and pluralistic societies. The 258-page volume includes essays by
authors from different parts of the world, representing a variety of
disciplines that raise a number of provocative questions for further pursuit.
Most of the theologians who have contributed to this publication presented
their papers at a consultation held in October 1998 in Wittenberg, Germany
under the theme, "Justification in the World's Contexts." To order the book
priced at EUR 11, please contact Ms Janet Bond Nash, 150 route de Ferney,
P.O. Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland. Fax: +41-22-791-66-30, E-mail:
jbn@lutheranworld.org

LWF Videotape: "Righteous Before God - An Agreement on the Doctrine of
Justification" 

The 35-minute videotape Righteous Before God * An Agreement on the Doctrine
of Justification documents the signing ceremony and confirmation of the Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg,
Germany. It also provides the historical background to the doctrinal dispute
about justification and the numerous dialogues and studies leading to the
JDDJ. The voices of many representatives of Lutheran and Roman Catholic
churches are recorded on the videotape, explaining the significance of
justification in the current context, and how it can be made accessible to
people of today. To obtain a copy of this videotape please contact: The
Lutheran World Federation, Office for Communication Services, Ms Janet
Bond-Nash, P.O. Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, Fax: +41/22-791 66
30, E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org. Please be sure to indicate the tape format
you require (PAL, SECAM, NTSC). You are kindly requested to contribute toward
production and shipping costs in the amount of CHF 25, EUR 17 or USD 21 per
cassette.

[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 62.3 million of the almost 66 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 the 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.]

*    *	   *

LWI online at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html 

LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30 
Editor's e-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org