wfn.org | Council of the Lutheran World Federation Meets in Jerusalem

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

Council of the Lutheran World Federation Meets in Jerusalem
Highlights Include Strategic Planning and Decision on Eleventh Assembly
Venue in 2010

GENEVA, 24 August 2005 (LWI) * The annual meeting of the Council of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) begins with a festive worship service in
the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the old city of Jerusalem on
Tuesday, 30 August, at 17.00 hrs. Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) will
preach.

The Council, at the ELCJHL's invitation, will be meeting August 31 to
September 6 under the theme, "The Church: Called to a Ministry of
Reconciliation." Plenary sessions will take place at the International
Center of Bethlehem, which belongs to the ELCJHL. 

The 49-member Council governs the LWF between Assemblies, held every six
years. The current Council was elected at the July 2003 LWF Tenth
Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It consists of the President, the
Treasurer and 48 people both pastors and lay from the LWF member
churches. Advisors, observers and guests will also attend. 

A special highlight of this year's meeting will be a decision on the
venue of the next Assembly. Following the 2004 Council decision to hold
the Eleventh Assembly in 2010, the Council will on Monday, September 5,
receive presentations from inviting churches and make its decision which
invitation to accept and the possible venue. 

Further highlights include reports on the Strategic Planning Process;
the Future of the LWF in the Context of Ecumenical
Reconfiguration/Changing Ecumenical Landscape; the Proposed Ecumenical
Alliance for Development (PEAD); and an Interim Report of the Task Force
on Family, Marriage and Sexuality. 
 
>From Wednesday, August 31 to Thursday September 1, the Council agenda
includes the Address of LWF President, Bishop Mark S. Hanson; Report of
the General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko; Report of the Treasurer, Mr
Peter Stoll; and discussion on these presentations.

Program Committees for Communication Services; Ecumenical Affairs;
Finance and Administration; International Affairs and Human Rights;
Mission and Development; Theology and Studies; and World Service will
meet with their own agendas from Thursday, September 1 and report back
to the Council for discussion and action on Monday, September 5 and
Tuesday, September 6. 

In addition, audience with representatives of Israeli and Palestinian
authorities is planned.

During the Council meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services
will provide a daily news service in English and German, and also offer
a photo service. News will be posted on the LWF Web site
under:http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html
(415 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 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
freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*   *	*

LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
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Editor: pmu@lutheranworld.org