Lutherans and Mennonites forge closer relations in practical ways

Writen by sadataley 8:50 AM - 0 Comments

Lutherans and Mennonites are discovering practical ways of forging closer relations in their mutual commitment to deepen the healing and reconciliation they expressed six years ago, states a recent report, Bearing Fruit. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Task Force that followed up on the “Mennonite Action” at the July 2010 Assembly developed the report. The reconciliation action at the Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, was the outcome of the international dialogue between Lutherans and Mennonites, which was preceded by discussions at national level, dating back to the 1980s in France and Germany. The LWF Council endorsed the report of the task force at its June meeting, and recommended it to the member churches for study. Bearing Fruit says LWF’s action of asking Mennonites for forgiveness has given “rise to new forms of cooperation” and become “a source of inspiration for further joint study, celebration, reconciliation services and joint diaconal projects.” It reiterates the Lutheran communion’s commitment to its prayer for “forgiveness from God and from our Mennonite sisters and brothers” for the persecution of Anabaptists during the 16th century Reformation and for the “healing of memories and reconciliation” toward the future. The report is organized in three major parts. The first chapter focuses on how the reconciliation action affects the hermeneutic interpretation of the Lutheran Confessions and Confessio Augustana (CA) in particular. Chapter 2 elaborates on unresolved issues, such as the question of how Christians should relate to civil state and the use of lethal force, and how these can be explored in an atmosphere of mutual openness and willingness to learn from each other. The third chapter describes joint initiatives that were directly inspired by the Stuttgart Assembly action.

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