wfn.org | LWI 2009-023 Closing Gap between Academic Theology and Church Life

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Closing Gap between Academic Theology and Church Life
Bavarian Church Looking Ahead to Christian Unity Highlight in 2009

AUGSBURG/GENEVA, 30 March 2009 (LWI) - "The place where you are gathered -  the city of Augsburg - fits well with the topic of your theological  consultation," said Oberkirchenrat Michael Martin, director of the  department of ecumenism and church life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church  in Bavaria (ELKB).

On behalf of ELKB Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich, Martin was welcoming the  around 120 participants to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation  "Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches - Transformative Perspectives  and Practices Today" at a reception given by the Bavarian church on 26  March in Augsburg, Germany.

"The task of this consultation is to close the gap between academic  theology and church life," Martin declared. This can be achieved by  "examining the changes in theological work in different local contexts of  Lutheran theology in the 21st century." Addressing this issue is "essential  for the communion of Lutheran churches within the LWF," he added.

In his words of welcome, Martin announced that the ELKB was to celebrate  its 200th anniversary this year. A further highlight in 2009 would be the  10th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine  of Justification on 31 October. "Together with the LWF, the Pontifical  Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Methodist World Alliance, we  want to remember this very important step on our way to the unity of the  one church, to which we all belong."

Over 120 theologians from more than 30 countries are taking part in the  consultation "Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches: Transformative  Perspectives and Practices Today" in Augsburg, Germany, under the auspices  of the LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS). The 25 to 31 March  meeting, held in collaboration with the Institute of Protestant Theology  of the University of Augsburg, is the culmination of the DTS study program  "Theology in the Life of the Church," which has been ongoing since 2004.

More information on the consultation is available at http://www.lutheranwor ld.org/What_We_Do/DTS/DTS-TLC_Augsburg.html

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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 79 countries all over the world, with a total membership  of over 68.5 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.)

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