Africa Lutheran Communion

All is now set for the Formal opening of the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Stuttgart, Germany.

The atmosphere in Stuttgart is bubbling with delegates, visitors, guests and church leaders arriving in varied colours and attires ready for the epoch making event. The event begins today with the formal opening Eucharist at the Stiftskirche where all delegates are expected to assemble.

This will be closely followed by the Plenary and appointment of Committees charged with the responsibility of handling the different aspects of the Assembly.

Today's ceremony will be rounded off with a celebrative evening when the host church is expected to present itself to the mammoth crowd.

The LWF President Mark Hanson, the outgoing General Secretary, Ishmael Noko, The Treasurer, Peter Stoll and the General Secretary elect, Martin Junge are leading the processions into the Stiftskirche.

A week-long meeting of Lutheran youths from 45 countries of the world has ended in Germany ’s eastern city of Dresden . They were preparing for the Eleventh Assembly of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to be held in Stuttgart.

The LWF Pre-Assembly Youth Conference (PAYC), 11-17 July, is one of several gatherings held so far in several regions of the world before the LWF Assembly. Most were regional gatherings, but special pre-assembly meetings were convened for women and for young people.

According to an LWI report, while there were varying opinions among PAYC participants, the enthusiasm about having an impact on their churches prevailed and kept their bond together.

"It is important that we are from all over the world and learn to accept our differences," said Rahel Gysel from Chile , who will be a young delegate at the LWF Assembly, 20-27 July. "We have to respect each other's differences and not just try to change each other’s opinions but to help each other understand why we believe as we do."

The young people were brought closer together by daily Bible studies, worship services, and times to share what life is like for young people in their home churches.

In long meetings during the week, the young people drafted a message that will be presented to the LWF Assembly, stressing their concern for protecting the future by improving what they called the "unsustainability" of current environmental, social and economic systems. The message also declared that "gender justice" was a key issue for youth and that increased attention should be given to the contributions that young people can make to their churches.

The LWF Assembly theme is "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread," and Karen Andrea Ettlin Frey, a participant, said she hoped the young people could help others "improve the comprehension of what it means to have daily bread." Most of the youth delegates are slated to serve as stewards at the Assembly.

As the activities building up to the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation move into top gear, meetings of the Executive Committee and the Council were held in Stuttgart within the past few days.

The meetings are constitutional provisions towards every Assembly to prepare grounds for the Assembly. They were chaired by the LWF President Mark Hanson.

The meetings featured the presentation of the reports of the President, General Secretary and the Treasurer among others. Committee reports and Personnel issues were also recieved and discussed.

At the end of both meetings, the  President Mark Hanson who was presiding over his last Council meeting as President, thanked all the members for their committment and contributions towards the work of the Federation within the past seven years. He charged those who will be saddled with the responsibility of continuing in taking up positions in the next Council to imbibe the same spirit inorder to move the Federation forward.

He specifically mentioned and commended the resilience and committment of the churches in the Global South to the work of the Federation, a situation which, he said, has lead to the continuos growth of the Lutheran membership in the Global South and the faith in general.

Activities marking the 11th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation will begin in Stuttgart, Germany, this week with an estimated 1,000 people attending.

Lutheran delegates numbering about 418, from the 140 member churches in 79 countries will be hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran church in Wuerttemberg.

The Theme of the Assembly which holds normally once in six years is "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread"

The Assembly will feature the review of LWF activities in the past seven years and present focus challenges of LWF work in different areas.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams is expected to deliver the Keynote address at5 the Asse3mbly'