Lutheran Identity Process Phase 1
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Lutheran Identity Process Phase 1 Full Report and Lessons Learned Contents PREFACE ..............................................................1 “WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: GLOBAL PERspECTIVES ON LUTHERAN IDENTITIES” ...............................................3 Venue and Date ........................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................. 3 Methodology ................................................................ 5 Aims ........................................................................... 5 Participants .................................................................. 6 Day 1: Holy Spirit as gift and promise ............................ 8 Day 2: Our holy communion ......................................... 8 Day 3: Formed and freed .............................................. 9 Day 4: Regional deliberation on the themes ................... 9 Worship and Music ...................................................... 9 Storytelling ................................................................. 10 OUTCOMES ........................................................... 11 Outcomes ...................................................................11 MAJOR THEMES AND FINDINgs ....................................13 Major themes ............................................................. 13 Major Findings ........................................................... 14 Follow up and preparation for Phase 2 .........................17 CONCLUSION .........................................................19 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS .............................................. 21 © The Lutheran World Federation, 2020 Editor: Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, Department for Theology, Mission and Justice Design and Layout: LWF Office for Communication Photos: LWF/Albin Hillert (Except page 3: LWF/S. Gallay) Publisher: The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches Route de Ferney 150 P. O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland [email protected] © The Lutheran World Federation [email protected] Lutheran Identity Process Phase 1 Preface The Lutheran World Federation’s a foundation for liberation and confessional writings, and for good (LWF) call to live and work together bridge building. The liberation to reason. Diversity is God’s Wisdom as a communion of churches is find one’s true human identity in woven into the fabric of creation. rooted in a shared commitment to loving relationship to God and every Maintaining unity in diversity is never ongoing reformation. Lutherans are other creature is the core of the easy. It is for this that Christ prayed part of a living Christian tradition Lutheran confession, and our bap- in John 17:11. The LWF strives to that is always reforming. tismal identity in Jesus Christ gives strengthen our narratives about Since it was founded in 1947, birth to a diversity of holy, life-giving “our shared understanding of the the LWF has a rich history of expressions of our Christian voca- theological identity of LWF member theological study processes to un- tion. As Paul’s letter to the Galatians churches through which [we] will derstand that living tradition. The states, “For freedom, Christ has set continue recognizing each other, first studies focused on a critical us free.” (Galatians 5:1) belonging to the communion, while recovery of Luther’s theology and Ultimately being Lutheran does witnessing in [our] diverse contexts.” the confessional tradition. Studies not prescribe an identity as such. (LWF Strategy 2019-2024) in later years have explored the Being Lutheran describes a faith- We begin this theological study nature and purpose of the Church, ful way of being in the world that process with the affirmation that justice according to the cries points to Christ as the revelation our identity is based on the one of marginalized people and the of God’s love, while embracing who identifies us as a beloved of Earth, worship, the communion’s the creative tension of ecumenical God. According to our confession self-understanding, and ways that consensus, interfaith dialogue and of the ecumenical creeds, the Holy Lutherans interpret the Bible. The interdisciplinary dialectic. Lutherans Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens LWF has now begun a process share normative commitments: the and nurtures a diversity of gifts, that aims to explore our shared Bible, sacraments, a catechism, by which we participate in God’s Lutheran identity and the ways that the Augsburg Confession among reconciling mission. diverse identities are expressed other confessional writings, means From 2019-2022, the LWF will across our polycentric communion. of grace and common contours engage its member churches in Today, the concept of “identity” for ministry and service. But like a communion-wide study of con- is contested. Against the current Luther’s translation of the Bible, temporary Lutheran identities as backdrop of anthropocentrism these norms are embodied through they are lived in the local church and ecological disintegration, eco- a diversity of languages, cultures, contexts. The first phase of this nomic, social and political exclu- forms of worship, spirituality, service, process was a global consultation sion, gender-based discrimination and expressions of public witness in in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in Octo- and resurging ethno-nationalism, minority and majority contexts. ber 2019. This report summarizes the concept of “identity” can be For that reason, expressions of the outcomes and findings of the a binary, prescriptive tool to draw the Lutheran tradition have always consultation, and points towards distinctions. But if the basis is been negotiated. Conflicts and con- preparations for the next phase of Christian liberty, identity becomes cord are well-preserved within the the global study process. Department for Theology, Mission and Justice 1 Lutheran Identity Process Phase 1 “We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities” Addis Ababa Consultation – Background Venue and Date contemporary Lutheran identities ogy?…How could we articulate a as they are lived in the local church coherent, shared narrative that 23 -28 October 2019 contexts. In his 2016 report to the helps us recognize each other as LWF Council, General Secretary Lutheran churches globally, yet re- Ellily Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Rev. Dr Martin Junge asked: “‘How main contextually rooted?’...It is an would we describe the “being and essential project that fosters coher- witnessing Lutheran” today in a ence, mutual understanding and Introduction global perspective? What are the mutual accountability as we jointly key features of our identity and continue proclaiming Jesus Christ From 2019 until 2022, the LWF witness, and how do they relate to as Lord and Savior, and witness to will engage in a global study of the key tenets of Lutheran theol- God’s love and justice in this world.’” Department for Theology, Mission and Justice 3 The study process will feature dy- shape the way we practice our faith To start the process, the LWF namic theological reflection and and contextualize Lutheran identi- engaged member churches and participatory regional consultation ties. However, within these new theologians in theological reflection aimed at listening for the ways in horizons, we want to discern ways on the work of the Holy Spirit, in a which we sound the common notes in which we creatively express our consultation on the theme, “We Be- of Lutheran identity among the rich common Lutheran heritage. lieve in the Holy Spirit: Global Per- harmony of lived, contextual identi- Spirituality (the lived experi- spectives on Lutheran Identities.” ties across our communion. ence of faith) shapes our Christian The Ethiopian Evangelical Church The goal of this process is to ana- identity and engagement with the Mekane Yesus (EECMY) and the lyze the ways in which our Lutheran world. Spirituality contains a deeply Lutheran Seminary in Addis Ababa communion lives out its mission and personal reality of one’s personal hosted the event in October 2019. spiritual life within the contemporary experience of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is a gift and contexts of our member churches. Yet, that relationship is nurtured in a promise for all creation. The Contemporary constellations of a community of practice. Identity Bible affirms that the Spirit is the economic and political power, legal is formed in the midst of the one, breath of God, by which creation challenges, scientific and techno- holy, catholic and apostolic church. was made, and the Advocate that logical discoveries, and new psycho- Some of the LWF churches call continues to enliven creation. The social developments continuously for renewal by reviving spirituality, Gospel of John reminds us that the call for new expressions of Lutheran and some churches struggle to Spirit, which is the dynamism of distinctives such as law and gospel, understand the myriad expressions renewal and reconciliation, blows faith and works, nature and grace, of spiritual gifts that call into ques- where it will, often in mysterious justification and sanctification, or tion their experience of faith in the and surprising ways. Martin Lu- freedom and vocation. Emerging Lutheran Church. What can we say ther affirmed God’s Spirit is con- cosmologies and cultural realities about the work of the Holy Spirit? stantly at work behind the masks Members of the EECMY Yetsedik Tsehay choir share song and music gifts with participants at the