wfn.org | European Churches Challenged to Learn From Counterparts in the South

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

European Churches Challenged to Learn From Counterparts in the South
LWF Mission Document Discussed at Regional Leadership Consultation

REYKHOLT, Iceland/GENEVA, 16 June 2005 (LWI) - Churches in Europe need
to learn from their fellow churches in the South, Rev. Dr Kjell
Nordstokke, director of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department
for Mission and Development (DMD) told an LWF regional consultation in
Reykholt, Iceland. 

"The times call for mutual learning and sharing of experiences,"
Nordstokke told 90 Lutheran bishops and church representatives from 23
European countries attending the June 8-13 European Church Leadership
Consultation.

In his presentation, Nordstokke referred to the LWF document "Mission
in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment - An LWF
Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission." The LWF
Council endorsed this document	during its September 2004 meeting in
Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland. The official text is currently only
available in English language.

Nordstokke emphasized that the heartland of Christianity was no longer
in Europe, but in Latin America, some parts of Asia, and in Africa.
While churches' membership in the South was increasing significantly,
European churches were faced with a steady decrease. Mission could
therefore no longer be understood as an activity decided by the North in
view of the South. On the contrary, churches in the South needed to
serve as an example for churches in the North. The South concepts should
be understood as "gifts and potential, for our renewal as missional
churches in our context," he stressed.

The DMD director spoke of the widespread uncertainties that
characterize the mood in Europe, including the fear of losing social
security, increasing immigration, and a worsening crime rate with
increasing violence. He said "the latest 'No' (vote) to the visions of a
united Europe may be understood [not only] as valid reactions against
centralization and neo-liberal ideology, but also, as fear regarding the
future and lack of confidence in political projects."

In Europe, the trend to emigration had shifted to immigration, he said.
"Tens of thousands are moving to Europe and North America from countries
in the South and also from the East." Immigrants tended to remain
outside the life of the churches, and integration in the life of
European churches had not yet occurred. He observed that churches in
Europe had until now been characterized by "their [ethnic] roots, their
historical social position, and the behavior of middle class values and
interest."

Europe's Lutheran churches were therefore being challenged to be
missional in the current context. Missional work was always integral and
included both the diaconal work and proclamation of the gospel.
Nordstokke pointed out that "mission expresses partnership and sharing
of resources." The church needed to overcome the rift between the rich
and the poor, and do away with prevailing inequalities, he said.

To be a missional church, according to Nordstokke, meant being a church
that accompanies, and "is ready to walk together with those who are on
the road, sensitive to people's experiences and questions, empowered
to communicate surprising good news and prepared to share the gift and
table of communion, so that empowerment and reconciliation could
happen." 

In the discussion that followed, Bishop Herwig Sturm, Evangelical
Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria, pointed out that so much
was happening in Europe that "we as churches need to react to this." A
long-term vision was necessary, he said. Sturm referred particularly to
the challenge posed by Islam in this context. "We are now suddenly
meeting people in Austria who tremendously value their religion." The
impact of religion on their lives and actions "challenges us to
question how strongly we value our faith," he added. (597 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. 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
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