August 5, 2003 (Baltimore, MD) - LWF Assembly
WINNIPEG, Canada, 31 July 2003 - The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which met in Winnipeg in late July, had as its theme "For the Healing of the World." The gathering, which included 800 participants and visitors from over 70 countries, got off to a rocky start when more than 50 delegates from developing nations were denied visas by the Canadian government. Criticism was leveled by the LWF, other churches, the media and the public for what appeared to be decisions based on race, gender and income.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson was elected president of the worldwide Lutheran body and will serve for six years, until the next world assembly.
The gathering's final "Message" acknowledges a "world in need of healing" and identifies areas of special concern for member churches in the worldwide communion of nearly 62 million Lutherans. Delegates from "the South," that is, below the equator, frequently entreated "the North," (North America and Europe) to "listen" to their concerns rather than offering counsel and aid from the standpoint of cultural and economic superiority.
In a final "Message," the Assembly agreed on a variety of measures of common social concern to member churches worldwide:
- Further exploration of what it means to be Lutherans "in communion," including the issues of the participation of Lutheran denominations not currently LWF members. The International Lutheran Council is a smaller worldwide federation of Lutheran churches that includes the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
- Commitment to remove barriers that exclude people from "participating fully in the life that God envisions for all," including gender, race, ethnicity, class, nationality, caste, sexual orientation, age and physical/mental condition. The Assembly also committed itself to supporting basic human rights for indigenous peoples.
- Enrichment of the church's healing ministries by addressing HIV/AIDS, violence and poverty.
- Commitment to justice and healing in families and respectful dialogue on marriage, family and human sexuality "in a manner appropriate to the needs of each member church." The Message also addresses the experience of "spiritual poverty" within families and encourages resources for addressing these needs.
- Full participation in the ecumenical "Decade to Overcome Violence" in families, against women and against children, to confront increasing militarism and the proliferation of weapons, advocate against expressions of violence in the media and actively confront expressions of religious fundamentalism in all faiths.
- Participation in addressing economic globalization in recognition of the churches' prophetic role in promoting justice and human rights. In particular, the Message addresses the growing gap between rich and poor.
The Assembly's Message concludes in part, "The world in which we live still suffers under the brokenness caused by sin; and people are victims of injustice and the abuse of power. But in the midst of all suffering and injustice, God is continuously at work, healing our world."
Additional information is available at www.LWF-Assembly.org