Rev. Wilma Rommel, United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Argentina), leads COL participants in exploring different aspects of Lutheran identity. © IECLB/Tobias Mathies
LWF Regional Conference Focuses on Lutheran Identity
Brazilian theologian Rev. Dr Nestor Friedrich called upon Lutheran leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote the use of interactive communication in order to encourage congregations’ active involvement in addressing justice issues and in promoting inclusion in society.
Speaking at The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) regional Church Leadership Conference (Conferencia de Liderazgo-COL), Friedrich, president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), also called for greater youth participation in church life.
In his opening address on the conference theme, “Re-reading Our Common and Unique Lutheran History in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the IECLB leader emphasized that the youth are a vital part of the Christian community. This community, he said, should “help youth in building identities grounded in values and practices that make sense for life.”
The church, said Friedrich, should be a place where youth can find comfort in times of despair, fear and doubt. “From this foundation, it will be possible to build communication among and between the churches in order to affirm our communion and identity as active and young churches,” he told COL delegates at the 23-27 April conference in the southern city of Florianópolis.
Ministry of Service
Rev. Dr Valerio Schaper, who teaches at the IECLB Lutheran School of Theology, said the mission of the church was rooted in its ability to be polyphonic and to embrace diversity. His presentation focused on the topic, “In the Shadow of the Cross–Under the Sign of the Resurrection: Lutheranism in Latin America between the Transition and Consolidation of Democracies.”
He said for the church to insist on the cross as a symbol of the church is to center its ministry of service on offering light and resurrection. “Christ’s ministry guides towards life, which moves to embrace the different, but it is only under the shadow of the cross that it is possible to understand and live the message of resurrection,” he explained.
During discussions on Shaper’s presentation, Rev. Angela Trejo of the Mexican Lutheran Church (ILM) commented that concern for life and human rights have been crucial throughout the history of Lutheran churches.
“Martin Luther focused on the social role of the church because he affirmed that we are a part of a society and the church cannot be confined within its own walls. When we, as churches, focus on the challenges that the society sets before us, we must address topics like respect, tolerance and openness to listen to other voices,” Trejo said.
Structural Issues
Speaking on “Elements for a Biblical Hermeneutics in Dialogue with Our Lutheran Identity,” Rev. Dr Mercedes Garcia Bachmann, who teaches at the ecumenical theological institute ISEDET, said the Bible is a resource to affirm the Lutheran identity using various hermeneutical approaches.
“The Bible evokes a number of topics and ways which we need to deepen. The Bible should not be unified into a single theology because, considering obedience as part of our faith, there is a source to recover the meaning of being faithful through the lenses of love and justice,” said Bachmann, a pastor of Argentina’s United Evangelical Lutheran Church.
In response, Bishop Siegfried Sander of the Lutheran Church in Chile (ILCH) said that liberating elements gained from study of the Bible invite Lutherans to address structural issues in church and society.
“We are invited to use the Bible from a different perspective in order to promote communities open to change and inclusiveness. Society expects that churches promote relationships that empower individuals,” the ILCH leader added.
LWF secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean Rev. Dr Patricia Cuyatti urged the regional leaders attending the conference to continue to probe the different aspects of Lutheran identity. She underlined today’s changing contexts and the call for the Church to be inclusive.
Prior to the leadership conference, women theologians and leaders from the region launched a network to promote the leadership of women and gender justice in all spheres of church work. (680 words)
(By Tobias Mathies, IECLB communications officer)
