Photo caption: At the solemn event in Windhoek, Namibia, dedicated to the worldwide 500th anniversary of the Reformation, water was symbolically poured. Photo: LWF/ Johanan Celine Valerian
Geneva
01.01.2018
In his New Year’s message, General Secretary Junge said that churches are called to give life-bringing witness.
“To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” (Rev 21:6)
What a beautiful word will accompany us throughout this year. “Water free of charge” reminds us of the “not for sale” themes that guided and inspired the Lutheran World Federation [LWF] during the time when it celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation both locally and globally. It is a phrase that affirms our core conviction that God’s liberating grace, which we breathe in as a gift, is breathed out as a compassionate witness to God’s transforming presence in our broken and wounded world. This is the way faith teaches God’s people to breathe. And this is the way the church lives in this world: receiving and sharing God’s gifts.
We rejoice with gratitude when we look back on 2017. God has been faithful and good to us: the 500th anniversary of the Reformation became an opportunity to grasp anew the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our central conviction was affirmed: only God can make us free so that we may receive new life. We found a new depth in viewing the Reformation as global, ecumenical, and ongoing. We encouraged one another, becoming convinced together that, because of Christ’s message, there is no better time than this in which we find ourselves to be the church – despite the many challenges we face.
Perhaps it is because of these challenges: the year’s motto reminds us to focus on what has been given to us free of charge, and to share with the thirsty in this world. We are called to give life-bringing witness.
“The year’s motto reminds us to be continually focused on what has been given to us free of charge, and to share it with the thirsty in this world. We are called to give life-bringing witness,” emphasizes LWF General Secretary Martin Junge.
Not the kind of witness that increases the abrasive dryness that threatens human existence and relationships through lust, selfishness, violence, and indifference, but the kind that gives comforting justice and empowering hope to people who are seeking a source of individual and collective transformation.
Not the kind of witness that multiplies cheap populism or shortsighted identity politics, but the kind that guarantees the dignity of all people.
At the assembly in Windhoek, the LWF member churches identified areas that they consider to be important callings in their witness, both locally and together as a communion of churches. Among the issues identified to be addressed were – gender justice, climate change, the renewal of churches, theological education, support for those who seek justice and peace, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogues.
The LWF communion office takes on the task of advancing this collective vision, asking the LWF member churches to develop this direction in the coming years. All member churches are involved in this process, and they are called to contribute to the development of the LWF strategy. I ask for your close support.
Furthermore, I want to encourage you to introduce the collective vision expressed at the assembly to your churches and to look for ways to implement it locally. The global witness that we offer as a communion of churches needs to be fulfilled by the member churches in local communities.
The year 2018 has begun. This is a good year to be the church. We have our hands filled with gifts to share. For he whom we praise is the one who gives water to the thirsty free of charge from the spring of the water of life.
A blessed New Year!
Dr. Martin Junge, LWF General Secretary
Source: Lutheran World Federation news