Andreas Aarflot, Bishop of Oslo
LWF executive committee
August 15 1989
It is with great joy that I greet you all on behalf of your sister churches in the Lutheran World Federation. The Lutheran and Reformed churches trace their roots back to the turbulent years of the Reformation. That was a time when people, constrained by their faith conviction, were compelled by their consciences to speak up for the gospel. It was a time when traditions were questioned and new commitments were made in expressions of spirituality to show the relevance of the word of God in daily life, in church and society.
Growing out of the same Reformation, the Lutheran and Reformed churches nevertheless have a history of separation, mutual condemnations and theological controversies. In the spirit of ecumenical commitment, however, the two traditions have found more and more common ground in the last decades. In dialogues, both regional and international, our churches have explored the present theological convictions, and have found few, if any, obstacles to a comprehensive church fellowship. The most recent report of the joint commission of 'the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, printed only this year, has taken as its title exactly the words "Towards church fellowship".
This report calls upon all member churches of the LWF and WARC to establish full pulpit and altar fellowship, which will include the necessary mutual recognition of ministers ordained for word and sacrament. They call upon all Lutheran and Reformed churches to make their unity more real and visible to their members and to the world. The report urges Lutheran and Reformed churches to declare full communion with each other, and "commit themselves to growth in unity through new steps in church life and mission together. "
"These challenging recommendations will be on our agenda as we move towards the end of this millennium. As your own report to this general council on the theme "Mission and Unity" states, it is important to "hasten to settle the preliminary questions of comprehension so as to be able to press on to the essential question of the witness of the churches in the world today" (p.63). Church unity is not an end in itself, but it is a means to better prepare the churches for their vital task to reach out in mission and service.
On behalf of the 105 member churches of the Lutheran World Federation, who are preparing for their own assembly in Curitiba, Brazil, in February next year, I wish you a successful outcome of your intensive work here at your general council in Seoul. We are with you in prayer and share with you in your concerns as you move boldly into the coming decades, trying to spell out to the peoples of the world what your theme addresses: Who Jesus is, and what he means to the world today.
