LWF Council Meeting 2008
Arusha, Tanzania, 25-30 June 2008
Day 6 - Monday 30 June
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LWF Council Gives Direction on
Climate and Global Food Crisis
 Rev. Dr David Pfrimmer reports on behalf of the Program Committee for International Affairs. © LWF/D.-M. Grötzsch |
The Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) called on LWF member churches to deepen their theological and ethical reflection on human contribution to climate change, as co- creatures with moral agency rather than claiming the prerogatives of creators.
Receiving recommendations of the Program Committee for International Affairs and Human Rights, the LWF governing body recommended that churches move beyond lamentation to urgent and effective action, and promote more sustainable lifestyles and behaviors among their members, with the aim to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions generated by institutional activities and operations.
It called member churches’ attention to “the critical urgency and unprecedented magnitude of the challenge of climate change and the threat it poses to humanity and all living beings on earth.” More...
LWF Council Calls for Removal of
HIV-Related Travel Restrictions
At its meeting this year in Arusha, Tanzania, the LWF Council called on the LWF member churches to advocate for the removal of discriminatory travel and entry restrictions, and similar examples of stigmatizations to people living with HIV.
“We [the Council] draw the attention of LWF member churches to the existence in approximately 70 countries of travel and entry restrictions which discriminate against people living with HIV,” the Council stated, when it received recommendations of its Program Committee for International Affairs and Human Rights, presented by Rev. Dr David Pfrimmer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. More...
LWF Council Calls for More Engagement
in Zimbabwe
The LWF Council urged its President to write a pastoral letter to heads of churches in Zimbabwe, expressing the LWF’s hope and trust that God cares for and would save the suffering people of Zimbabwe. The LWF governing body also urged the General Secretary to write letters to the African Union chairperson, African government heads, and the ecumenical community in Africa, encouraging regional action to protect Zimbabwe’s suffering people, and promote return to genuine democracy. More...
LWF Council Approves Preparation of a
Lutheran Statement to Ask Forgiveness
for Anabaptists Persecutions
 Prof. Dr Joachim Track delivers the report of the Program Committee for ecumenical affairs. © LWF/D.-M. Grötzsch |
The LWF Council 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.
More...
Council Affirms Proposal for
New LWF On-Line Presence
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The LWF Council adopted a recommendation seeking the provision of sufficient funds in 2009 for the on-line presence of the LWF.
The Program Committee for Communication Services brought the recommendation before the Council, after discussion of the report of the May 2008 “Communal Portal” roundtable which brought together more than 45 representatives of member churches and partner organizations. The participants had recognized the urgency of a new institutional Web site in view of preparations for the LWF 11th Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany.
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