Articles From the Lutheran World Federation

GENEVA, 20 October 1999 (lwi)

The dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic Church began soon after the end of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification is so far the high point of the more than 30-year process. The two dialogue partners confirm that they have reached "a consensus on basic truths of the doctrine of justification" and "that the mutual condemnations of former times do not apply to the Catholic and Lutheran doctrines of justification as they are presented in the Joint Declaration". Thus, by a theologically well-founded joint action, a new interpretation has been made with regard to the doctrinal condemnations and tensions of the past concerning the doctrine of justification. With the confirmation of the Declaration in a worship setting by the LWF and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), both churches have begun expressing their relationship to one another in a new way. For the LWF, the decision of its Assembly in Curitiba in 1990, in which the Federation is described as a communio of Lutheran churches, is obviously, albeit with many reservations, being recognised by its dialogue partner. The common goal is "to reach full church communion, a unity in diversity, in which remaining differences would be 'reconciled' and no longer have a divisive force".

Full article can be found here.

HANOVER, Germany/GENEVA, 22 February 2000 (lwi)

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was affirmed by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman-Catholic Church and solemnly confirmed on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany. For the first time since the Reformation, both churches made a statement on the doctrine that severed the unity of the Western church in the 16th century.

The LWF president said that the significance of the Joint Declaration was furthermore to be found in the way the document relates to the core of the biblical message. He noted that the "universal character" of the Joint Declaration has been acknowledged and bears special significance in the sense that the other recent interdenominational agreements are regionally limited while this document is universally valid for both partners.

...interest in continuing to develop this ecumenical document in such a way that it would include other denominations in addition to the Lutheran/Roman-Catholic context.

Full article can be found here.

Lutherans and Catholics have bridged theological divide.
CHICAGO, United States of America/ GENEVA, 23 October 1999 (lwi)

In a press statement, Bishop Anderson describes the Joint Declaration as "a significant milestone in the reconciliation of our two church traditions. By acknowledging that there is agreement on this crucial article of the Christian faith, our two churches have bridged a theological divide that has separated us for nearly 500 years." Anderson said: "This agreement will have a positive effect on the mood of conversations between our two communions. I hope that this theological breakthrough will lead to other agreements in the future."

With the major issue - over which the two churches "damned" each other in the 16th century - taken care of, Lutherans and Roman Catholics are able to tackle the remaining list of issues, said the Rev. Daniel F. Martensen, director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs. Such issues include the office of ministry and the authority of the pope. Roman Catholics and Lutherans are saying "we don't have any church-dividing difference between us any longer on the teaching of justification by grace through faith," he added.

Full article can be found here.

A sign of consolation for the Pope
World Christian communions welcome declaration signing.
ROME, Italy/GENEVA, 1 November 1999 (lwi)

Pope John Paul II described the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, (LWF) as a "consoling sign" on the eve of the Jubilee of the Year 2000, and as "a corner stone on the complex road to the restoration of full unity among Christians." In his message of the mid-day prayer on 31 October 1999, the Pope described the confirmation of the "Joint Declaration" as a milestone on the "not easy road towards" the restoration of full unity between Christians. He described the declaration as a secure basis for the continuation of theological ecumenical research which at the same time allows the two Christian communions to face the still existing difficulties with increased well-founded hope for a solution in the future. Furthermore, it is a contribution to cleansing the historical memory and to a shared witness.
A representative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) described the signing of the Joint Declaration as "a small but significant step" towards healing a major division that has marked history, especially in Europe.

The World Methodist Council (WMC), congratulating the LWF and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) on the occasion of the confirmation of the Joint Declaration in Augsburg, said the agreement positively affects the course of relations between the Catholic Church and other Christian World Communions. The accomplishment by the two Christian confessions "signals a new day for our witness to Christ as we enter the new millennium - two thousand years since the 'Word became flesh' in Bethlehem!".
In a message delivered on 31 October in Augsburg by the WMC General Secretary Dr. Joe Hale, the council underlined: "We thank you for what you have done on behalf of us all!" The congratulatory message was jointly signed by the WMC President Dr. Frances M. Alguire, the Chairman of the council's Ecumenics and Dialogue Committee Dr. Geoffrey Wainwright and Dr. Hale.

Full article can be found here.

Call for increased fellowship in the congregations.
AUGSBURG, Germany/GENEVA, 30 October 1999 (lwi)

"If we agree on the core of our faith, then this must lead to concrete improvements in our fellowship in the congregations and for confessionally mixed marriages and families," Oeffner told journalists in Augsburg. He also expressed a wish for more ecumenical worship services which should not be the exception but, rather, "the rule", adding that these should take place on Sundays. For the regional bishop, the mutual recognition as churches of Christ is also on the agenda. The aim for him is a shared Eucharist, "to begin with at least mutual invitation to the Lord's table". In the future, the question should no longer be: "May we do this together? But, rather, Why don't we do this together?" Oeffner underlined. He said he hoped that the signature of the Joint Declaration will be a real impetus for ecumenical relations in the congregations."

Full article can be found here.