wfn.org | New Name, Changed Constitution for Kirghizstan Lutheran Church

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Increased Membership in the Past Year

PISHPEK, Kirghizstan/GENEVA, 23 May 2001 (LWI) - Delegates at the Eighth
Synod of the Lutheran church in Kirghizstan decided unanimously to change
the church's constitution and adopt a new church name.

The 35 synod members representing 14 of the church's 16 congregations chose
the name Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kirghiz Republic at their May
4-6 meeting in the Kirghiz capital, Pishpek. The action comes in
anticipation of possible ratification of a new law on religion, and
corresponds to the new situation within the church, it was announced after
the meeting.

The church's new leader is Bishop Emmanuel Schanz, who previously used the
title provost having the authority of a bishop. The changes also provided
for a deputy bishop and the possibility of establishing church districts.
Following the synod's approval, Bishop Schanz appointed Rev. Alfred Eichholz
as deputy. Eichholz and his wife Larissa have been working particularly with
children and youth for nearly three years, which they plan to continue.

The Lutheran church in Kirghizstan was founded in 1994 as the Diocese of
Evangelical Lutheran Congregations in the Kirghiz Republic. The independent
regional church belongs to the fellowship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Russia and Other States (ELCROS). Through ELCROS, it is a member of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) since 1997.

During the Eighth Synod's opening ceremony and worship service that
followed, Director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs Natalia N.
Shadrova stressed the need for all Christians in Kirghizstan to work
together. As in the past, she highly praised the work of the Lutheran
church. Other synod guests included ELCROS Archbishop D. Georg Kretschmar,
his deputy and Rector of the Theological Seminary in Novosaratovka, Bishop
Stefan Reder, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uzbekistan
Kornelius Wiebe and ELCROS Public Relations Officer Irina Selezneva.

In their respective reports to the synod, Bishop Emmanuel Schanz and Synod
President Alexander Schanz spoke of the Lutheran church's positive growth.
Only a few years ago, the church's membership was declining but there has
been a remarkable increase in the past year. The church leaders attribute
this to the establishment of Sunday schools, continued development of youth
work and a focus on the Russian-speaking population. In addition to 650
adult church members, there are 250 children and 100 youth. Almost all
congregations have Sunday schools, some with youth groups. Nearly half of
the synod members are Sunday school teachers.

In the coming year the church's priority work areas include development of
training courses for preachers, Sunday school teachers and social service
workers, continuing work with children and youth including weekend and
holiday activities and support for the renovation of church buildings in
some congregations. In co-operation with the ELCROS head office, the church
also plans to develop communications.

During the closing worship service in the church in Pishpek, Bishop Emmanuel
Schanz was consecrated for further service, and Rev. Eichholz was installed
as deputy bishop. Gottlieb Pister, preacher in the Pishpek congregation, was
ordained.

(Contributed by Irina Selezneva, ELCROS Public Relations Officer)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

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