At a meeting in Geneva that concluded on June 14, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council approved plans for three-way talks that will include Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Mennonites. Recommendations were made for the founding of a Trilateral Dialogue Commission comprised of four representatives each from the LWF, the Vatican‚s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Mennonite World Conference.
According to a news release, the Council asked general secretary Rev. Martin Junge, in consultation with member churches, to identify and propose names of Lutheran members to the Commission, taking into consideration gender and regional representation as well as familiarity with the ecumenical partners and the issues to be discussed. Junge was also asked to continue the process of preparing for a Lutheran-Pentecostal International Commission and report his progress at the next Council meeting.
The Council re-affirmed the strong commitment of the LWF to the work being conducted by the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France.
Other topics covered at the meeting included world service; international affairs and human rights; communications; mission and development; membership; and finances.
Next year‚s Council meeting will take place from June 14-20 in Geneva, Switzerland, pending discussion with Swiss authorities on the denial of a visa for Liberian delegate A. Elijah Zina. Other locations will be considered if the discussions are unsatisfactory, Junge said.
--June 17, 2011
Martin Junge is the first Latin American to hold the office of general secretary..
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