Lutherans and Mennonites Affirm Joint Concerns for Peace

Reconciliation Action Can Create “New Scenarios of Hope”

BOGOTÁ, Colombia/GENEVA, 16 April 2010 (LWI) - Lutherans and Mennonites in Latin America and the Caribbean celebrated a joint commitment to peace in the world, as a delegation of Mennonites were welcomed at a regional conference of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in the Colombian city of Bogotá.

Since 1980, Lutherans have been seeking closer ties with Mennonites and expressing regret for persecutions—sometimes under Lutheran auspices—which Mennonites and other Anabaptists received in the 16th and 17th centuries.

At the ongoing LWF Pre-Assembly Consultation and Church Leadership Conference for churches in the Latin American and Caribbean region in Bogotá, participants who included representatives from the Mennonite Church of Colombia (IMCOL) heard about the painful history that marks Lutheran-Mennonite relations, and about progress made over recent decades of ecumenical dialogue.

The LWF Council at its October 2009 meeting in Geneva, adopted a statement asking for forgiveness from God and from Mennonites “for the harm that our forebears in the sixteenth century committed to Anabaptists, for forgetting or ignoring this persecution in the intervening centuries, and for all inappropriate, misleading and hurtful portraits of Anabaptists and Mennonites made by Lutheran authors, in both popular and scholarly forms, to the present day.

“We pray that God may grant to our communities a healing of our memories and reconciliation,” the statement said.

At the LWF pre-assembly, IMCOL President Rev. Tomas Orjuela cited the importance of the joint gathering on 14 April. “Our compromise as Mennonites is to serve the Lord and our country,” he said. One of the traditional “peace” churches, Mennonites have generally resisted military service, often incurring penalties from governments for their pacifist stance. Orjuela welcomed Lutheran initiatives as signs of humility.

LWF General Secretary-elect Rev. Martin Junge spoke of the history between Lutherans and Mennonites and of the action of reconciliation expected at the Eleventh Assembly this July. “This history can’t be erased. We must take on responsibility for it, and ensure that it is not repeated,” said Junge, who is currently LWF area secretary for Latin America and Caribbean.

“Peace must get concrete forms as is the case this afternoon,” said Ms Jenny Neme, a Mennonite representative, working for the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action (JUSTAPAZ). Established in 1990 JUSTAPAZ’s activities are aimed at responding to the violence and social injustice affecting communities in Colombian society. “These actions of reconciliation are a witness that has a significance that goes far beyond the churches. It speaks to humanity’s longing for peace,” she added.

Mennonite pastor Rev. Ricardo Pinzón, told the Lutherans, “In a world of globalization we need to globalize peace and non-violence initiatives. With your action we can build on forgiveness and reconciliation new scenarios of hope.”

Lutherans and Mennonites took part in a worship service around a candle whose color blended purple for repentance and white for joyful resurrection. Participants embraced each other during the worship.

“I will never forget this day and this celebration of peace,” said Rev. Errol Inshanally, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana. The participants spontaneously started to sing the words of Psalm 133, “see how nice and good it is when brothers and sisters are gathered.”

World Council of Churches (WCC) Moderator Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, also president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, brought greetings from the WCC, and linked the concern for global peace to the council’s “Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace” (DOV). He pointed out that the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation to be held in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2011 will celebrate the achievements of the DOV which began in 2001.

The pre-assembly concludes its business session today. There are around 50 participants in the meeting, including 26 delegates from the 16 LWF member churches in the region, representatives from mission partners, ecumenical guests and LWF staff. (655 words)

Journey | Latin America/Caribbean Pre-Assembly Consultation

16.04.2010

Lutherans and Mennonites Affirm Joint Concerns for Peace

Reconciliation Action Can Create “New Scenarios of Hope”

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