wfn.org | Rev. Ane Hjerrild, General Secretary of Denmark's Lutheran

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

Rev. Ane Hjerrild, General Secretary of Denmark's Lutheran Church
Council on International Relations Dies
LWF General Secretary Noko Pays Tribute to a Dedicated Ecumenist 

GENEVA, 21 July 2005 (LWI) - The General Secretary of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, has conveyed deepest
condolences to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark (ELCD)
following the death of Rev. Ane Hjerrild, General Secretary of the
church's Council on International Relations. 

Hjerrild, died on July 16, aged 62, after a short period of illness. 

Hjerrild was a person of "strong ecumenical commitment, eager to
strengthen human bonds, compassionate in relations with colleagues and
friends all over the world," Noko writes in his condolence letter
addressed to Ms Kirsten Auken, Acting General Secretary, ELCD Council on
International Relations.

He further expresses the LWF's tribute to Hjerrild for her active
contributions over many years in the context of LWF Assemblies, Council
meetings, consultations, and various other occasions. " She will be
remembered as a thoroughly dedicated ecumenist, with a sharp view of
crucial issues, relentless in promoting the full universality of
Christian unity," Noko adds. 

Hjerrild was born on 5 March 1943 in Denmark. She was a member of the
executive committee of the Ecumenical Council in Denmark, 1972-1978. In
1975, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Literature and Theology
from the Theological Faculty of Aarhus University, Denmark, and was
assistant professor for ecumenical and mission theology at the
university, 1975-1978. From 1979 until 1980, she taught theology at the
Silkeborg Teacher Training College, and was deputy director of a social
institution, Kofoed School, 1980-1982. She was executive secretary for
church and society in a Danish church organization, 1982-1989. 

Ordained in 1989, Hjerrild has been serving as a pastor of the
Cathedral of Copenhagen until 2005. She was appointed General Secretary
of the ELCD Council on International Relations in 1990, the same year
she was elected to the LWF Council, where she served as an adviser on
the then Standing Committee for Ecumenical Affairs until 1997. She was
also a member of the LWF Tenth Assembly Planning Committee that
coordinated preparations for the July 2003 Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada.
Since 2001, she has been a member of the Executive Committee of the
Community of Protestant Churches in Europe - Leuenberg Church
Fellowship.

As Noko is currently on official travel to West Africa, the LWF will be
represented at Hjerrild's funeral tomorrow, July 22, by Acting General
Secretary, Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, Director of the Department for
Mission and Development.

Rev. Ane Hjerrild is survived by her husband Rev. Frederik Hjerrild,
their three daughters and two grandchildren. (438 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. 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
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
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