wfn.org | German Lutheran Church Body Favors Closer Cooperation with EKD

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

German Lutheran Church Body Favors Closer Cooperation with EKD
VELKD Extraordinary Synod Stresses Need for Efficient Structures

HANOVER, Germany/GENEVA, 3 May 2004 (LWI) - The general synod of the
United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) has decided in
favor of closer cooperation between the VELKD and the Evangelical Church
in Germany (EKD). 

The relationship between the VELKD as a "fellowship of churches of the
same confession" and EKD as a "fellowship of Protestant churches of
different confessions" should be structured in such a way as to
facilitate the implementation of the mission of the Church. The goal
should be "to strengthen the voice of Protestantism in Germany and
Lutheran identity within it," VELKD synod members said in a resolution
after an extraordinary session of the governing body April 3 in Hanover,
Germany.

According to the resolution, a basic condition for reaching a
contractual agreement on cooperation between both bodies would be that
the VELKD can continue to function as a church in both the theological
and legal sense.

The relationship of the respective responsibilities and competences of
each body as determined in the foundational documents of the VELKD and
EKD, is to be clearly defined in a contract which would serve as a
constitutional document. "The synodical principle must continue to be
preserved and effective in the VELKD and EKD," the synod stated in its
resolution.

During the forthcoming negotiations on such a contract, attention
should be paid to creating structures that would guarantee that the
United Church can exercise its responsibilities as mandated in its
constitution. As many tasks as possible should be undertaken jointly and
distinctions made only where necessary according to the respective
understanding of each fellowship. In their resolution, synod members
stressed the need for negotiations that focus on efficient management
structures. 

It was noted that the VELKD has developed a strong sense of community
based on the members' shared confession. This had been particularly
expressed in its theological work, in the realm of church order and
church life, in legal matters and in ecumenical work. The synod
resolution stressed that the common ties between the VELKD member
churches be maintained and encouraged. For the VELKD and its member
churches, mutual belonging within the worldwide Lutheran family was an
important component of their participation in global ecumenism and could
not be given up. The VELKD intends to maintain and pursue its own
ecumenical relations and to continue to conduct bilateral and
multi-lateral dialogues and doctrinal conversations.

The general synod requested the church authorities, "taking account of
the principles mentioned above," to enter into negotiations with the
EKD, and to report on their progress at the next ordinary meeting of the
VELKD general synod, 16-20 October 2004 in Gera, Germany.
 
At the conclusion of the extraordinary meeting of the general synod,
VELKD appointed a four-person commission to begin negotiations with the
EKD on structural questions. Members of the group include VELKD
Presiding Bishop Dr Hans Christian Knuth (Schleswig), Catholic affairs
officer, Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich (Munich), and two lawyers,
Oberlandeskirchenraetin Dr Karla Sichelschmidt (Wolfenbuettel) and
church office president, Hans-Dieter Hofmann, (Dresden).

The VELKD is an association of eight regional Lutheran churches in
Bavaria, Brunswick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, North Elbia, Saxony,
Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia. It represents about 10.4 million
Lutherans. The EKD brings together 24 Lutheran, Reformed and United
regional churches in Germany. (557 words)

[The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing 62.3 million of the almost 66
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
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