○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Issue 1 — March 2002 The Lutheran World Federation Tenth Assembly In sixteen-months time, over 430 del- A theme is chosen for each As- opted persons, interpreters and Why Does the egates from the Lutheran World Fed- sembly. ‘For the Healing of the translators, stewards and accred- Lutheran eration (LWF) member churches will World’ is the theme for the 21–31 ited press. gather in Winnipeg, Canada, for the July 2003 Assembly. Every Assembly elects a Presi- Communion of LWF Tenth Assembly, hosted by the As well as delegates, an As- dent and a 48-member Council to Churches Gather Evangelical Lutheran Church in sembly includes a wide range of lead the Federation through its in Assembly? Canada (ELCIC). other participants—representa- annual meetings. The Assembly Assemblies, considered mile- tives of associate member is also responsible for the LWF stones for, and manifestations of churches, observers from LWF Constitution, gives general direc- Message from the whole Federation, take place national committees and related tion to the work of the Federation Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko normally every six years. They agencies, official visitors, ex-offi- and acts on the reports of the hold highest authority over LWF cio participants, advisors, guests, President, General Secretary, and Dear Sisters and Brothers, policy and activity. LWF and local staff including co- Treasurer. ■ You may ask, “Why do we need to ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ bring people from around the world to meet together in an Assembly?” Reasons are prescribed in the LWF Constitution, such as electing offic- ers and Council members and act- ing on reports. Business conducted at the LWF Tenth Assembly will be important in determining future leadership and directions for the Logo Federation’s work. But beyond these requisite constitutional mat- The Assembly logo is a teacher and ters lie some deeply theological and invites curiosity works as an missiological reasons. and comment. It independent artist. The church (ecclesia)—as the shows a broken Both ELCIC members, people of God, the body of Christ, landscape—white their artwork for and the temple of the Holy Spirit—is cracks in earth or national church events by nature an ‘assembly.’ The LWF mountains—set is well known. Assembly enables churches to against a cross on worship, witness, confer and speak the left and an olive For information on use together on matters common to the branch with three large of the logo, please contact: whole church, and to express their leaves on the right. The As- unity as part of the one, universal, sembly theme, ‘For the Healing The Lutheran World Federation new community in Christ. of the World,’ cradles it. The Office for Communication Services Since 1990, we as the LWF cross implies movement. One of The logo was designed by two P.O. Box 2100 understand ourselves as being the leaves is leaning over the artists from the Canadian prairie CH-1211 Geneva 2 more than a loosely affiliated earth while the others are reach- city of Regina, Saskatchewan. Erik Switzerland federation of churches. We are a ing toward the sky as a sign of Norbraten is an art director and E-mail: [email protected], communion of Lutheran churches creation and healing. graphic artist. Richard Nostbakken Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 ■ Continued on page 2 LWF Assembly Update / No. 1, March 2002 1 AU 200201-E.p65 1 8/6/02, 10:14 AM Churches Gather in are increasingly connected This Triune God also sends us Assembly through networking, but all fall out for the sake of God’s mission short of the importance of in the world. Attending to what (continued from page 1) gathering together at the same that mission means ‘for the healing united through Word and time, in the same place, as living of the world’ is a central reason Sacrament. This holds us together beings. Present with one another, why the LWF member churches in a more profound sense than any we realize who our sisters and will assemble in Winnipeg, Canada. constitutional requirements. brothers in Christ actually are, and As we do so, we are held together “Communion with God and our generalizations are challenged. by the power of God’s Spirit, such communion with one another In living and working with one that we are able to speak honestly are…made possible by God’s self- another over several days, we about the challenges facing us and communication as it comes to recognize our significantly our churches, and to discern, expression in the human acts of different situations and debate and decide how these will preaching the gospel and perceptions, as well as what we be addressed through our ongoing administering the sacraments.”1 share in common. Through God’s work as a communion: How will we LT Whenever and wherever we gather grace, we are able in solidarity to bear faithful witness in word and in local congregations to hear the share our pains and joys, our deed ‘for the healing of the world?’ Word and celebrate the Sacraments burdens and gifts, and in that How will we address the tensions © LWF/C. A © LWF/C. we are reminded that we do so as process begin to understand what and problems we face within our part of the communion of saints Luther was describing when he churches and societies? How can worldwide. explained what occurs through the this Lutheran communion of This wider communion must Sacrament of the Altar: churches, as part of the wider become for us more than an church, further God’s all- …through the interchange of abstract, faceless reality. We must encompassing mission in and for Christ’s blessings and our mis- be able to touch, hear, taste and the sake of the world? fortunes, we become one loaf, experience this reality firsthand. In I look forward to seeing, and one bread, one body, one self-giving love, God became being with, those of you who will drink, and have all things in incarnate in a human being. assemble in Winnipeg. ■ common.... In this way we are Similarly, the communion we share changed into one another and with one another must become are made into a community by incarnate, in very human, face-to- love.2 face kinds of communication and interactions that enrich, test out Here we receive the promise, a and deepen what it truly means to foretaste of God’s communion be a communion. with the whole of creation in the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko Today, through computer and coming reign of God. This coming General Secretary other information technology, we together in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has Notes Previous Assemblies: important ongoing consequences 1947 Lund, Sweden The Lutheran Church in the World Today for our life together as churches 1 Christoph Schwöbel. “The Quest for Communion. Reasons, Reflections and 1952 Hanover, Germany The Living Word in a Responsible Church throughout the world. Recommendations” in The Church as 1957 Minneapolis, USA Christ Frees and Unites Communion, ed. Heinrich Holze, LWF “God’s self-giving which consti- 1963 Helsinki, Finland Christ Today Documentation 42, LWF Publications, tutes communion with God in Geneva 1997, p. 277. 1970 Evian, France Sent into the World faith, seeks expression in the 1977 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania In Christ—A New Community 2 “The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy pattern of mutual self-giving and True Body of Christ,” Luther’s Works 1984 Budapest, Hungary In Christ—Hope for the World love...in forms of mutual shar- Vol. 35, p. 58. 1990 Curitiba, Brazil I Have Heard the Cry of My People ing in both its spiritual and ma- 1997 Hong Kong, China In Christ—Called to Witness ■ 3 Schwöbel, p. 279. terial aspects.”3 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The LWF Council decided that additional purposes of the • commit to closer and deeper cooperation within the Tenth Assembly are to ecumenical movement and to life in communion as given in Christ • explore ways to be God’s instruments for healing, justice and reconciliation in the midst of brokenness in church • discern the challenges posed to the Lutheran churches and society in today’s multicultural and multi-faith contexts, and • deepen the understanding and experience of the Lutheran • address spiritual, social and environmental challenges communion by addressing differences and disparities, provoked especially by economic globalization. and by sharing gifts ■ 2 LWF Assembly Update / No. 1, March 2002 AU 200201-E.p65 2 8/6/02, 10:14 AM Theme The theme was chosen by the LWF and especially for us as a Executive Committee from sugges- communion of Lutheran churches. tions made by the LWF member Healing is a pervasive theme in churches in 2000. It is inspired, Scripture, and especially in the among other biblical texts, by the ministry of Jesus. A number of the apocalyptic vision in Revelation Bible studies will be from Luke’s 22:2 of the river and tree of life: Gospel. Here Jesus is conceived, ANGE “…and the leaves of the tree are baptized, and sent forth in ministry for the healing of the nations.” through the power of the Holy Compared to most former Spirit. He is seen as a Spirit-filled © LWF/WS G. M Assembly themes, this one explicitly prophet who healed people of El Salvador: Reconstruction program points to the world and various illnesses associated with unclean after hurricane Mitch. contexts in which we live. The truth spirits. Jesus healed by restoring that faith confesses must come wholeness or integrity to people. present in human history and alive, be understood, confessed and Although ‘healing’ in the throughout creation. We enter into lived out in ways that genuinely Christian tradition is closely communion with the crucified and speak and respond to the world’s related to salvation, forgiveness, risen Christ, in whom God’s Spirit needs.