History in our own time: The Joint Declaration on Justification

“How are we saved?” This was the central question of the Protestant Reformation. Or, as Martin Luther phrased it: “How are we, as sinners, found righteous in the sight of a just God?” This is a question that has challenged Christians throughout our history, and has challenged our Hebrew brothers and sisters for even longer. The fact that we believe we will be saved is evident in our decision to come here today, for we all believe that God has offered us salvation. But why are we saved? Because we come here? Because we do our homework, say our prayers and try not to pick on our little brother?
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Posted: October 31, 1999 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=6258
Categories: Opinion • In this article: Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, JDDJ, Lutheran World Federation, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Transmis : 31 octobre 1999 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=6258
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : Catholic, Christian unity, dialogue, ecumenism, JDDJ, Lutheran World Federation, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

First joint meeting of WARC and LWF governing bodies

Future of Ecumenical Assemblies Is of Crucial Importance for Conciliar Ecumenism in the 21st century [CHAVANNES-DE-BOGIS, Switzerland | LWI] The Officers of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), holding their meetings in the course of overlapping days, met for the first time in joint
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Posted: November 20, 2006 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4971
Categories: Lutheran World Information • In this article: Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Reformed churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches Transmis : 20 novembre 2006 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=4971
Catégorie : Lutheran World Information • Dans cet article : Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Reformed churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches

LWF Affirms Historic Statement on Episcopal Ministry

After eight years of preparation, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), meeting in Lund, Sweden, from 20 to 27 March, adopted a historic statement on the episcopal ministry.

The full title of the statement is Episcopal Ministry within the Apostolicity of the Church – The Lund Statement by the Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches. It has been developed as a clarification of how the Lutheran churches understand the character and purpose of the ministry of oversight in the church, paying particular attention to how this ministry serves the church’s apostolicity – its continuity with Christ and the apostles.
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Posted: April 2, 2007 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=2262
Categories: News • In this article: episcopé, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation Transmis : 2 avril 2007 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=2262
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : episcopé, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation

LWF Council receives ecumenical reports

LWF Council receives ecumenical reports

• LWF Council Approves Preparation of a Lutheran Statement to Ask Forgiveness for Anabaptists Persecutions
• Council Actions Affirm Ecumenical Dialogues and Conversations

[Arusha, Tanzania • LWI] The Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) voted to provide for preparation of a statement that will, on behalf of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), ask for forgiveness for Lutheran persecutions of “Anabaptists,” in which many died as this violence was justified by appeal to the Lutheran Reformers’ theological statements.

Receiving recommendations from its Program Committee for Ecumenical Affairs, the Council also acknowledged with appreciation the communiqués from the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission in 2007 and 2008, and commended the study commission for its thorough and important work. It encouraged the Commission to publish the final report of its work in 2009.

The committee, chaired by Prof. Joachim Track, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany, had discussed the outcome of the Lutheran-Mennonite study commission, and focusing on the 11th Assembly in July 2010, elaborated possible Assembly actions with regard to weighing the language of regret and asking for forgiveness.

The Council endorsed the committee’s recommendation that Rev. Dr Theodor Dieter, Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg, France; Rev. Dr Donald McCoid, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Archbishop Nemuel A. Babba, Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, prepare a draft of such a statement.

Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity

Based on recommendations from the ecumenical affairs program committee on a fifth phase of the discussions on the Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity, the LWF Council received with appreciation the report from the 2007 preparatory meeting, and noted it was looking forward “with hope” to the beginning of a fifth round of the Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity.

The LWF governing body also approved the preparation of a “Text on the Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017”, and approved the theme of the Commission’s work, “Baptism and Growth in Communion.”

The Council approved the appointment of Lutheran members to the dialogue, taking into account gender and regional balances. They include co-chair Bishop Dr Eero Huovinen (Finland); Rev. Dr Wanda Deifelt (Brazil); Prof. Turid Karlsen Seim (Norway); Dr Fidon Mwombeki (Tanzania); Prof. Friedericke Nüssel; (Germany); Prof. Michael Root, USA; Prof. Hiroshi Augustin Suzuki, Japan; Rev. Dr Theodor Dieter as a consultant; and an additional woman from Eastern Europe.

Lutheran – Orthodox Relations

The Council received the Common Statement from the 2008 plenary of the Lutheran – Orthodox Joint Commission. It requested the General Secretary and the Office for Ecumenical Affairs to identify one or two additional members for the Commission in order to allow academic specialties necessary for its examination of ministry to be present on the Commission, and to strengthen its gender and regional balance.

The Council also received with appreciation the report from the 2008 conversations with the Oriental Orthodox churches.

Lutheran – Anglican

The Council received the 2007 and 2008 communiqués from the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission.

It also received the communiqué from the 2007 All Africa Anglican-Lutheran Commission (AAALC), and affirmed it would support efforts toward the goal of a full communion relationship among LWF members and those belonging to the Anglican Communion in Africa.

Lutheran – Reformed

The LWF Council received the communiqué from the Lutheran-Reformed Joint Commission 2007 with appreciation. It affirmed the continuation of the common efforts of cooperation between the LWF and its Reformed partners during the time of transition to the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which will unite the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council.

International Lutheran Council

The Council received for information the communiqué from the 2008 contact meeting between the LWF and International Lutheran Council (ILC). It expressed appreciation for the continued consultative process between both global Lutheran bodies.

It affirmed the importance of the communication between the two Lutheran families on issues that are important to both of them and to their respective member churches.

Global Christian Forum

The Council received with appreciation the Final Message from the November 2007 gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF). It also received the report of the first subsequent meeting of the GCF committee, and expressed hope for the new expression of Christian unity, and encouragement for its ongoing structure.

Ecumenical Assemblies

The possibility for the Lutheran communion to find room to gather in the context of the “expanded space” foreseen for future assemblies of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was discussed by the program committee. The Council asked the general secretary to establish an ad-hoc group of about four people to assist in developing and articulating the LWF’s position in preparation for meetings of the WCC Discernment Committee and other discussions on the relation of LWF Assemblies to other ecumenical gatherings. (781 words)

* * *

Around 170 participants attended this year’s Council meeting including church leaders, officials from LWF partner organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators, LWF staff and co-opted staff and accredited media.

The Council is the LWF’s governing body meeting between Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other members include advisors, lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF regions.
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Posted: July 1, 2008 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=477
Categories: Lutheran World Information • In this article: ecumenism, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation Transmis : 1 juillet 2008 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=477
Catégorie : Lutheran World Information • Dans cet article : ecumenism, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation

Lutherans adopt statement asking forgiveness from Mennonites

Lutherans adopt atatement asking forgiveness from Mennonites

LWF Council Unanimously Adopts Statement Asking Forgiveness from Mennonites
Mennonites Welcome Move Toward Reconciliation, says MWC General Secretary Miller

The Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has approved a statement that prepares for a significant action of reconciliation with churches of the Anabaptist family.

With this endorsement, the statement “Action on the Legacy of Lutheran Persecution of ‘Anabaptists'” is recommended for adoption at the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany. The statement expresses “deep regret and sorrow” for the legacy of violent persecution of Anabaptists, and especially for the ways in which Lutheran reformers supported this persecution with theological arguments. It asks forgiveness, “from God and from our Mennonite sisters and brothers,” for these past wrongs and also for the ways in which later Lutherans have forgotten or ignored this persecution and have continued to describe Anabaptists in misleading and damaging ways.

The statement then makes commitments with respect to how the violent history of persecution by Lutherans will be remembered, and how the Lutheran confessional legacy will be interpreted from now on in light of this action.

… continued
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Posted: November 1, 2009 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=609
Categories: News • In this article: Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, repentance Transmis : 1 novembre 2009 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=609
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, repentance

Lutherans to seek formal reconciliation with Anabaptists

by Byron Rempel-Burkholder, Mennonite World Conference news service [Strasbourg, France • MWC] When Lutherans from around the world gather in July, they will seek a historic reconciliation with Mennonites and other Christians of the Anabaptist tradition. On July 22, the third day of the eleventh assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to be held
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Posted: July 19, 2010 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=631
Categories: Dialogue • In this article: Christian unity, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, statements Transmis : 19 juillet 2010 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=631
Catégorie : Dialogue • Dans cet article : Christian unity, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, statements

Lutheran World Federation President Says Ecumenical Commitment to Continue

STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) — The Lutheran commitment to ecumenism will not end until members can share the Eucharist with other churches, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to a news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI). The
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Posted: July 22, 2010 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=4861
Categories: ELCA News • In this article: ecumenism, Lutheran World Federation Transmis : 22 juillet 2010 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=4861
Catégorie : ELCA News • Dans cet article : ecumenism, Lutheran World Federation

Munib Younan elected President of Lutheran World Federation

Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has been elected President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) by the Eleventh Assembly in Suttgart, a gathering of 418 delegates and others from the LWF member churches.
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Posted: July 24, 2010 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=632
Categories: News • In this article: Lutheran World Federation, Munib Younan, Palestine Transmis : 24 juillet 2010 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=632
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Lutheran World Federation, Munib Younan, Palestine

Mennonites, Lutherans and Catholics to dialogue on baptism

A recent meeting of the executive committee of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 28 to August 4, 2010. Among other topics on the agenda for the meeting were proposals for two ecumenical dialogues, one with Seventh Day Adventists, and the other with Lutherans and Catholics.
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Posted: August 26, 2010 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=635
Categories: Dialogue, News • In this article: Catholic, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, Seventh-day Adventist Transmis : 26 aoüt 2010 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=635
Catégorie : Dialogue, News • Dans cet article : Catholic, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference, Seventh-day Adventist

Plans for Trilateral Dialogue with Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Mennonites

At its meeting in Geneva, 9-14 June, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council approved plans for a three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Mennonites.
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Posted: June 17, 2011 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=2258
Categories: News • In this article: Catholic, dialogue, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference Transmis : 17 juin 2011 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=2258
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Lutheran, Lutheran World Federation, Mennonite, Mennonite World Conference