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LWF Urges Youth to Join Centennial Prayer Events for Christian Unity Young People's Vision, Courage Are Crucial for Ecumenism GENEVA, 18 December 2007 (LWI) - Ahead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity centennial next year, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called on young adults in its member churches and various networks to join Christian youth in praying for "the much-needed Christian unity in every global region." The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and its 100th anniversary will be marked from 18 to 25 January 2008 under the theme "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17). "Young people took a leading role when the ecumenical movement started over 100 years ago. For today's ecumenism - which, according to many has come to a standstill - the vision and courage of young people is of utmost importance," said Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), where the LWF Youth desk is located. Nordstokke stressed the LWF's ecumenical contribution: "It is widely accepted within the Lutheran communion that being Lutheran implies being ecumenical. It should therefore be natural for Lutheran youth to join with other Christians in praying for unity." LWF/DMD Youth is among 12 Christian youth organizations and units of international church bodies that have signed a joint statement calling on young Christians to "take action and make our voices heard for Christian unity" during the week. LWF Youth secretary Rev. Roger Schmidt said young adults' impetus toward Christian unity was crucial. "The ecumenical movement needs a strong push from young people. Although the week of prayer has been observed since 1908, Christian unity remains an ever-burning issue," he said. Schmidt noted "young people identify more easily with diversity in their respective contexts, and have a strong sense of the critical role of Christian unity. They are enthusiastic to actively play their part in realizing this global, ecumenical goal," he added. The World Council of Churches and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity coordinate the week of prayer, observed ecumenically through joint prayer, worship and other activities to express the need for greater visible unity among the churches. (355 words) More information at http://lwfyouth.org/issues/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/
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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total membership of nearly 66.7 million. 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.)
[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.]
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