Other Danish news from the 11th Lutheran World Assembly

Bishop of Haderslev becomes new council member from Denmark

A new council of 48 members (26 female, 22 male) was elected to serve until the next assembly in 7 years’ time. 10 of the new council are in the under-30 category. Of the 48 members, 28 are ordained and 20 are lay. The new LWF president is Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). The new Danish member is the Bishop of Haderslev, Niels Henrik Arendt. The Council is responsible for the business of the LWF between Assemblies. It decides on the structure of the LWF Secretariat, sets the budgets of the LWF, and presents an annual report to the member churches.

“Very welcome and joyful”
The keynote speaker on the conference theme of “Give us today our daily bread” was Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, who spoke about our vulnerability and our consequent need to shun self-righteousness and give ourselves over to God’s help and support. We  must forgive as we are forgiven and learn better to share our resources, however difficult that may be.

In the Q and A session that followed Rowan Williams chose first to address the Danish decision to join the Porvoo Declaration, due to be formally signed on October 3rd in Copenhagen Cathedral : “The decision by the Danish Lutheran Church is very welcome and joyful. We look forward to a regular exchange of ideas and concerns and to the growth of the Porvoo friendship.”

 

Edward Broadbridge

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