The following news release concerns an ecumenical dialogue between Mennonites and Lutherans that in many ways parallels the dialogue between the Mennonite World Conference and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Church Unity. Many of you will find it of interest.
NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2005
MENNONITES AND LUTHERANS WEIGH
16TH CENTURY ANABAPTIST CONDEMNATIONS
Strasbourg, France – Does the condemnation of Anabaptists spelled out in the
1530 Augsburg Confession apply to Mennonite World Conference member and
related churches today?
Mennonite and Lutheran scholars, theologians and historians will offer their
perspectives on this question at the first international MWC and Lutheran
World Federation Study Commission to be held at the Ecumenical Institute
here June 27 – July 1.
Planning for the international commission began in 2004 and will build on
national dialogues that have already been held between Mennonites and
Lutherans in France, Germany and the United States over several years. Those
discussions touched on similarities and differences between the faith groups
around issues such as baptism, the Lord’s Supper and relations between
church and state. But they also dealt with the Augsburg Confession and its
condemnation of Anabaptists, which is still foundational in Lutheran liturgy
and theology worldwide.
What connections exist between the Augsburg Confession’s condemnation of
Anabaptists and their execution in Lutheran lands in the 16th century? Does
the confession perpetuate mistaken images of Anabaptists and justify the
violence against them? What consequences emerge for relationships between
today’s Mennonites and Lutherans?
Questions such as these were raised in national dialogues. The commission
will consider whether conclusions reached there on these and other questions
can be received internationally.
The Study Commission’s primary work in Strasbourg will be on the Augsburg
Confession and its impact on today’s MWC and related churches. The
commission’s conclusions will be reported to the governing bodies of MWC and
the LWF for further action and possible official statements. Planners
anticipate three annual international dialogues.
Co-chairing the commission will be Rev. Rainer Burkhart, Mennonite church
leader in Germany, and Dr. Gottfried Seebass, Lutheran theologian, also
from Germany. Co-secretaries for the commission are Dr. Larry Miller from
Strasbourg, MWC executive secretary, and Rev. Sven Oppegaard from Geneva,
LWF Associate General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs.
Study Commission members include participants from each of the previous
national dialogues. Other Mennonites among them are Dr. Claude Baecher,
theologian and professor from France; and Dr. John Roth, church history
professor from Goshen College (USA). New to Lutheran/Mennonite discussion is
Hellen Bradburn, a Mennonite theologian from Arusha, Tanzania, an area that
has approximately three million Lutherans.
—
Ferne Burkhardt, News Editor
Mennonite World Conference