The Executive Committee visited the Mayor of Tallinn. General Secretary Burghardt the city “continues to exemplify spirit of innovation and justice which was present when it embraced Lutheranism 500 years ago.” Photo: Ellen Rudi
LWF Executive Committee witnesses how historic Lutheran roots shape contemporary service in Estonia
(LWI) - The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, in late November, for its annual autumn meeting and to learn more about the witness and work of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC). Committee members were warmly welcomed by Archbishop Urmas Viilma and the city’s mayor and visited both a school and an orphanage providing vital services for children in the former communist country.
In her greeting to mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt recalled that Tallinn was one of the first cities to embrace the Reformation and offer worship for an Estonian-speaking congregation. “These early, courageous decisions,” she said, “paved the way for promoting education, developing the Estonian language and establishing foundations that continue to shape this city today.”
Burghardt, an Estonian native, said that Tallinn “continues to exemplify this spirit of innovation and justice which was present when it embraced Lutheranism 500 years ago.” She stressed that churches religious communities must “join hands” with secular leadership to support the “dignity of every human being and just and caring relationships among the people.”
Among the decisions taken by Executive Committee members was the appointment of additional members to task forces and study groups, including the Task Force on Mutual Responsibility and the Study Group on the Theologies of the Cross for the 21st Century. Photo: LWF/A. Danielsson
The first full day of the meeting concluded with a worship service in the cathedral of Tallinn. Photo: EELC/Endel Apsalon
The committee visited the Kaarli church and the school it operates in its congregational center across the street. Photo: LWF/A. Danielsson
During the 19 to 22 November visit, participants from all regions of the global communion of churches visited a church-run school and an orphanage to see how the witness of the church continues to serve the needs of people in the highly secularized nation. According to a recent census, Lutherans and Orthodox churches together number less than one third of the population of 1.3 million people.
Reflecting on the visit, LWF President Henrik Stubkjær, said he was moved by the vibrance of the EELC, “which is strong because of its work. We were inspired by the volunteers and staff we met, who are offering their talents and time, working on areas of importance for the wider society.”
Among the decisions taken by Executive Committee members was the appointment of additional members to task forces and study groups, including the Task Force on Mutual Responsibility and the Study Group on the Theologies of the Cross for the 21st Century. The appointments will ensure diverse representation from member churches including the voices of youth and lay people from the different LWF regions.
From left: LWF President Henrik Stubkjær, Tallinn mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski, LWF General Secretary Anne Burghardt, EELC Archbishop Urmas Viilma. Photo: Ellen Rudi
A choir from the Kaarli church sang traditional songs for the committee members during their visit. Photo: Ellen Rudi
The Executive Committee also received with sadness news of the decision by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana to end its membership in the LWF. The General Secretary reported that numerous attempts were made by regional church leaders to reach out to the church, offer accompaniment, and clarify the reasons why the church in Ghana does not want to continue being a member of the LWF and its regional networks. The church did not respond to these attempts.
Committee members also heard updates on the work of the Communion Office and its finances, as well as a report about the challenges facing the Augusta Victoria Hospital which the LWF runs in East Jerusalem for Palestinian patients. Earlier in November, a 12-year-old cancer patient died at the hospital, separated from her father and younger sister at home in Gaza, highlighting the impact of the ongoing conflict on children and their families.
The Committee received an update on the new rollout of the LWF Strategy which was adopted by the Council in June this year. The committee was informed about a milestone document for the strategy which sets concrete targets and timelines for the period and will help management monitor progress. Titled ‘Sharing Hope,’ the new strategy will guide the global communion’s work from January next year.
The Executive Committee meets twice a year in between Council meetings. It provides oversight of the Communion Office and ensures that operations are in line with Council decisions and the LWF strategy.
