Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:23:11 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/ Asia Lutheran Communion en-us http://www.asia-lutheran.org/images/images/logo.gif http://www.asia-lutheran.org/ timo@asia-lutheran.org http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=445 New LWF Council Holds its First Meeting STUTTGART, Germany/GENEVA, 30 July 2010 (LWI) – A new treasurer and seven vice presidents for The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) were elected by the LWF Council meeting in Stuttgart (Germany) 28-29 July, two days after the LWF Eleventh Assembly closed its business. The LWF council, also newly-elected at the Assembly, was led by Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. The bishop was elected LWF President at the Assembly. The Council elected Ms Christina Jackson-Skelton from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as Treasurer. She will also chair the Program Committee for Finance and Administration. The seven LWF vice presidents represent the LWF regions. The vice presidents also chair the Program Committees while the LWF goes through a renewal process which will be concluded in 2012. The vice presidents are: From Africa – Bishop Alex G. Malasusa, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, serving as chair of the Program Committee for Mission and Development; From Asia – Ms Eun-hae Kwon, Lutheran Church in Korea, serving as chair of the Program Committee for World Service Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:23:11 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=444 Assembly Participates in Powerful Service of Repentance STUTTGART, Germany, 22 July 2010 – In what Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), described as possibly “the most significant legacy this Assembly will leave,” the Eleventh Assembly of the LWF today took the historic step of asking the Mennonites for forgiveness for past persecutions. Delegates unanimously approved a statement calling Lutherans to express their regret and sorrow for past wrongdoings towards Anabaptists and asking for forgiveness. Hanson described the act of repentance and reconciliation as “communion building and communion defining. “We will not just look back; we will also look towards together to God’s promised future.” Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:47:15 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=443 Bishop Munib A. Younan is a Passionate Campaigner for Peace and Inter-Faith Dialogue in the Middle East STUTTGART, Germany, 24 July 2010 – Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has been elected President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) by the Eleventh Assembly here, a gathering of 418 delegates and others from the LWF member churches. Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:39:11 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=442 Membership Reaches 145 Churches and 70.1 Million Members STUTTGART, Germany, 21 July 2010 – Five new churches, all of them in Asia, have joined the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The LWF Council approved their admission at its meeting 18-20 July. Three of the new churches are from Myanmar: the Lutheran Church of Myanmar, founded in 1995 with 1,620 members; the Myanmar Lutheran Church, founded in 1998, with 2,150 members; and The Mara Evangelical Church, founded in 1984, with 21,573 members. Also joining the LWF membership were the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in India, founded in 2007, with 15,400 members; and the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nepal, established in 1943, with 676 members. The five new churches bring the number of LWF member churches to 145 in 79 countries. LWF member churches now have a combined membership of 70.1 million (70,094,735). Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:19:33 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=441 Cardinal Kasper Says There Has Been “No Ecumenical Winter” STUTTGART, Germany, 21 July 2010 – Addressing the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) today, the recently retired President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said that he felt “deep emotion and gratitude” looking back on “these years of such rich and enriching cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation.” Walter Cardinal Kasper said that “Lutheran-Catholic relations have been since the beginning of our international dialogue … in my heart and will remain in my heart.” Referring to his recent book about the ecumenical movement, Harvesting the Fruits, Kasper said, “I was more than surprised to see such a rich harvest and that we have achieved much more than we could even dream before. There has been no ecumenical winter.” Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:19:10 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=440 Good Stewardship Demands Secretariat Changes: LWF Treasurer STUTTGART, Germany, 21 July 2010 (LWI) – There has been a positive development in the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) membership fees, LWF Treasurer Mr Peter Stoll said in his report to the Eleventh Assembly. Since the 2003Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada, fees have increased from USD 2.6 million to USD 3.2 million in 2009. Nevertheless, there are still churches “in the North as well as in the South” that do not pay their membership fees, Stoll said. Although the financial situation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is stable, efforts must be increased in order to secure its future in the longer term. Funds in the Endowment Fund, founded in 1999 with a long-term target of CHF 50 million, amounted to almost CHF 12 million at the end of 2009. The next goal is to reach CHF 20 million by 2017. Now is the time to financially restructure the LWF headquarters, said Stoll. All departments have faced financial deficits, he said, urging efforts to achieve balanced budgets. The Treasurer asked the Assembly to consider decentralizing the headquarters in order to “create more synergy with the resources of the member churches and regions,” and restructuring the seven LWF regions and all the departments of the LWF offices in Geneva, Switzerland, where the organization has been located since it was founded in 1947. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:18:25 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=439 General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko Relates “Daily Bread” to Caring for the World STUTTGART, Germany, 21 July 2010 – A changing world, a more inclusive communion of Lutheran churches, closer ecumenical relations and the challenge of serving others are some of the issues the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will address in the years ahead, said General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko in his report to the LWF Eleventh Assembly. Referring to the Assembly theme, Noko said that “daily bread” had strong “spiritual significance.” It was in the act of breaking bread that the risen Lord Jesus was revealed to the travellers on the road to Emmaus, he said. “And it is in fellowship and care for one another that we recognize the face of God.” Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:20:44 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=438 LWF President Calls Churches Attention to Celebrating Their Common Heritage STUTTGART, Germany/21 July 2010 – Lutherans gather in Stuttgart, Germany, for their international assembly at a time when “the world is in pain,” said Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) when he presented his address to the once-every-six years gathering, taking place in this southern city of Germany. “Wars rage, the creation groans under the weight of our consumption, refugees wander in search of shelter, illness and death come to those who lack access to clean water and health care,” said Hanson, who is also Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, “You bring to this assembly the cries of the people in your communities,” the LWF president said to the more than 400 delegates and hundreds of other participants attending the meeting hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg. The assembly theme is “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread.” Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:17:29 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=437 The theme for the LWF Eleventh Assembly LWF is based on the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread.” The LWF Council chose these familiar words as a point of orientation for all that we say and do. Thus, a rich variety of experiences is anticipated during those seven days in July 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany. It will be a time of celebration, for God does indeed give daily bread, even “without our prayer,” as Luther explains in the Small and Large Catechism. More than that, God regularly provides not only the necessities, but also the finer things of life. It is our duty and delight to praise God and to give thanks for such generosity. But that is only part of the story. The other piece is troubling. The Eleventh Assembly will also be a time of soul-searching. The good things that God keeps giving to “us” do not reach all of “us.” We will want to reflect and pray about why it is that so many among “us” die of starvation. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:12:18 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=436 LWF Eleventh Assembly to Focus on Alleviating Hunger in all Forms STUTTGART, Germany, 19 July 2010 (LWI) – “Hunger is not God’s fault; it’s our fault,” said The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Bishop Mark S. Hanson at the opening press conference of the federation’s Eleventh Assembly. Introducing the Assembly’s theme, “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread,” the president said, “If people lack what they need for daily life, it is because we have failed to ensure that the good things of God’s creation are justly and equitably distributed to all.” Follow what's happening from the Assembly website: www.lwf-assembly.org Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:46:35 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=435 Archbishop of Canterbury to Deliver Keynote Address in Stuttgart GENEVA, 14 July 2010 (LWI) – In about a week’s time, Lutherans from around the world will meet in Stuttgart, Germany, for the Eleventh Assembly of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread" is the theme of the 20-27 July event, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg. The LWF comprises 140 member churches in 79 countries, representing more than 70 million Christians. An estimated 1,000 people, including 418 delegates from the member churches will participate in the assembly, held mainly in the Liederhalle cultural and congress center. Occurring normally every six years, the Assembly is the LWF's highest decision-making body. Follow what's happening from the Assembly website: www.lwf-assembly.org Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:16:00 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=434 Construction of the multi-purpose 6-storey Education Centre which started in May 2008 was finally completed in early 2010 and on 1st May 2010 the Dedication Service for the Centre was conducted successfully. The Celebration was well attended by about 1,000 people from far and near. All Glory is due to our Lord! It was also a time of wonderful fellowship with friends and we are truly touched by the outpouring of love, care and concern. Thank you for your prayers and kind words. The Centre covers a built-up area of 64,024 square feet and the complex comprises of a 900-capacity auditorium, a recreation hall, a 2-storey library block and a conference room for 100 participants. In additional it comprises a mini chapel, 12 classrooms and 13 lecturers’ apartments. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:11:18 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=433 Over 120 Participants Expected GENEVA, 28 June 2010 (LWI) - Over 120 young Lutherans from the 140 member churches of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will gather from 11 to 17 July in Dresden, Germany, to prepare for the LWF Eleventh Assembly convening the following week. The Assembly is the organization's highest decision-making body, meeting every six years. The Pre-Assembly Youth Conference (PAYC) will take up the Assembly theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread." This concerns not only the question of food security but also broad religious and social issues such as HIV and AIDS, illegitimate debt and climate change. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:22:59 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=432 Dear readers We are pleased to announce the release of ALN51. Just click on the newsletter on the right. As promised, this issue brings you a special feature in honour of the late Rev Dr Kunchala Rajaratnam of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church. Several Lutheran partners of the Mekong Mission Forum (MMF) had also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for mission and ministry cooperation in Cambodia. Do you know there are more than one Lutheran church in Myanmar? The Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod had also just ordained their first woman pastor. Read all these and more in this issue of the Asia Lutheran News (ALN). Please forward this link to those who may find the news helpful and relevant. ALN Team Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:59:48 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=431 Dr Hope Antone, Joint Executive Secretary of Faith, Mission and Unity (FMU) delivered the keynote address of the Consultation on Contextual Theological Education in the Mekong Region from June 17-20, 2010, held at the Myanmar Institute of Theology, Yangon, Myamnar. This is the 5th joint consultation organized by the Mekong Mission Forum (MMF), Association of Theological Education in Myanmar (ATEM) and Judson Research Center of Myanmar Institute of Theology (JRC-MIT). Previous consultations had tackled the topics of Ethnic Minority (2006); Dialogue (2007); Identity (2008); Mission and Development (2009). Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:36:34 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=430 Understanding Christian Mission in Diverse Local Contexts EDINBURGH, Scotland/GENEVA, 10 June 2010 (LWI) - The Lutheran delegation to the 2010 World Missionary Conference, 2-6 June, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was diverse and its members well prepared to join in ecumenical consideration of mission in the 21st century. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as one of the "stakeholder" organizations in the conference, was represented by a team of seven persons, including academicians and practitioners, with a balance of gender and more than the recommended 20 percent young adults. "We wanted to look in the direction of the future," said Rev. Roger Schmidt, spokesperson for the LWF delegation. "We also knew that other significant Lutheran leaders would be present in their organizational and ecumenical capacities," noted Schmidt, youth secretary at the Department for Mission and Development. Held under the theme "Witnessing to Christ Today," Edinburgh 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference, also held in Edinburgh that helped to set the course of Protestant mission outreach in the 20th century. Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:16:41 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=429 Lutheran Distinctive courses are being conducted for pastors and evangelists in Myanmar for a second consecutive year by Rev Wolfgang Grieninger and Rev Dr Philip Tan of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore (LCMS). The venue was at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Myanmar. These courses were conducted with the sponsorship of the Mekong Mission Forum (MMF). By organizing such courses MMF aims at strengthening the Lutheran identity and cooperation among the various Lutheran groups in Myanmar. Twenty-two pastors/evangelists from two Lutheran churches in Myanmar attended - Myanmar Lutheran Church (MLC - Senior Pastor: Rev Andrew Mang Lone) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Myanmar (ELCM - Synod President: Rev Dr Lal Sawi Thanga). The weekend after the seminar, Bishop Philip Lok of LCMS conducted ordination services for three pastors of MLC and one pastor of ELCM. In a way the Lutheran distinctive courses helped to prepare these candidates to be ordained. Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:28:50 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=428 The Africa's first Lutheran denomination was established by American missionary since 1860. The Lutheran Church in Liberia, West Africa became the door way for Lutheranism on the continent of Africa. During April 23-28, the Church celebrated 150 years of service to God's people. This celebration brought together both international and local Partners. Rev Dr Noko, Outgoing LWF/DMD General Secretary was the keynote speaker for the anniversary service on the theme: "We Come This Far By Faith".. Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:16:07 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=427 The Mekong Region Mission Partners’ Consultation (MMPC) was launched in the year 2000. Partners, which include LWF member churches and mission agencies from Asia and the west, gathered in Bangkok with a three-fold purpose and objective - to gather information about mission activities, to discuss and to consider the possibilities of joint-mission activities, and to consider ways for better coordination of mission activities in the Mekong region. In celebrating the 10th Anniversary of MMPC this year, the Mekong Mission Forum (the action arm of MMPC) met at Tao Fung Shan Hong Kong from April 29-30 2010, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Lutheran Cooperation in Cambodia was signed by five partners to form the Mekong Mission Forum Cambodia Cooperation (MMF-CC): • The Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod (CRCHKS) • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria (Mission One World) • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hong Kong (ELCHK) • Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) and • Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:11:46 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=426 CCA's first woman General Secretary! Rev Dr Henriette Tabita Hutabarat Lebang from Sulawesi, Indonesia made history when she was elected as the new General Secretary during the 13th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 15-22 April. She is the first woman to be elected to this position since CCA was founded at the Malayan capital in 1959. The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 16 National Councils and over 100 churches/denominations in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand. Dr Hutabarat will succeed Dr Prawate Khid-arn, whose term ends in October 2010. Thu, 20 May 2010 00:39:47 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=425 After a relatively long period of deliberation, discussion at different levels, and going through the necessary procedural approval, the Chinese Rhenish Church, Hong Kong Synod (CRCHKS) is now happy to announce May 30th, 2010 as the day CRCHKS will ordain its first woman -- Ms Siu-ling Ho -- a church deaconess who had served in one of the congregations since her graduation from seminary in 1994. Mon, 17 May 2010 02:37:17 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=424 Dear Readers ALN50 is now ready for you to click away. Please download the issue by clicking on the newsletter (right). This issue brings you the latest update on the LWF membership that had hit 70 million! Lutheran seminaries in Asia had also met to network under the name NeLTIA! We also bring you the sad news of the passing away of a great Asian leader -- the Rev Dr Rajaratnam Kunchala of India. Read all of these and more in this issue of the Asia Lutheran News! This is the 50th issue after the re-launched of Asia Lutheran News (ALN) almost nine years ago in 2002! Our editorial board members, news liaisons and even our layout artist have changed through the years. With this issue onwards, we hope to bring you more changes for the better in the coming years, though some of you must have noticed ... Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:56:20 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=423 Greetings from Ampo! The ELC-PNG website has been upgraded and some advanced features have been added. The previous website http://www.elcpng.org.pg will be cancelled due to inconsistencies with the hosting server to handle advanced internet features. The new ELC-PNG website is: http://www.elcpng.org Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:59:55 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=422 The memorial service marking the celebration of the life, faith and commitment of Dr Kunchala Rajaratnam was held at the Ziegenbalg Auditorium, Gurukul, Chennai, India on April 10, 2010. Hundreds of people from many parts of the country and continents representing various churches, organizations, educational institutions – theological and secular, ecumenical and people’s movements, resource agencies and non-governmental organizations paid homage to the ‘leader’. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:15:07 -0400 http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=421 Kunchala Rajaratnam Dies in Chennai GENEVA, 10 April 2010 (LWI) - LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Ishmael Noko paid tribute to Rajaratnam as a leader who "challenged his colleagues to redefine partnership in mission. “He was forthright in his views and seldom compromised his commitments to justice and fairness. He did not mince his words and when necessary he spoke in capital letters," said Noko in a statement issued at the LWF headquarters in Geneva. "Yet, even on those occasions, those of us who knew him well realized that deep down in his personality there was a softness that made him likeable," he noted. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:17:31 -0400