The joint working group appointed by the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches held its second meeting in Campinas, Brazil, November 17 to 23 2000.

The group's mandate is to review Lutheran-Reformed relations on regional and international levels, to assess the implications of these relations for the global relationship between the two world communions, and to examine ways in which these might more fruitfully cooperate.

In line with its mandate, the working group invited representatives from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) and from some Brazilian member churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches for an all-day conversation about possible ways to deepen relationships between the two confessions.

The working group came to understand the many ways in which the ecumenical challenges which arise stem from the churches' pastoral engagement in the local context and from their history in Brazil. For example, most of the Lutheran congregations have their origins in immigrant communities, whereas most of the Reformed churches were created through missionary work from abroad. These historical differences tend to shape distinctive practices.

The working group also learned about a number of joint initiatives in the areas of diaconal work and theological education. The Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) and the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU) are both members of the National Council of Christian Churches (CONIC). The IECLB and most of the Presbyterian and Reformed churches work together in the Latin-American Council of Churches (CLAI).

Serious reflections on the day will be integral to the development of the working group's report to the two Christian world communions, along with information gathered from other regions.

A major focus of this meeting was on two papers: "Fellowship among the churches of the Reformation: on making unity visible" by André Birmelé (LWF), and "Steps towards communion" by Lukas Vischer (Warc). Responses to these papers were given by Hermann Schäfer (Warc) and Dieter Lorenz (LWF).

The discussions on the papers were oriented toward the different ways in which churches on both sides can move at various levels from mutual theological recognition toward more visible forms of church fellowship.

The working group received information on the consultative meetings that have been held between representatives of the United Churches in Germany and senior staff of the LWF and Warc. The information included the plans for an international consultation to be held concerning the special issues facing churches historically related to both Lutheran and Reformed traditions. A decision was taken that the joint working group would participate in such a consultation, to be held immediately prior to its next meeting in 2001.

The group worshipped together daily and attended the Sunday worship service of the Lutheran congregation in Indaiatuba, near Campinas.

For the communiqué from the first meeting of the joint working group, click here.