Church of England and German Lutheran Church Create Historic Bonds

Two clergymen are set to become the first ever Lutheran pastors to work for the Church of England this week.

Rev Woldemar Flake and his wife the Rev Sabine Behrens will join the Colne and Villages Team in East Lancashire for the next three years, The Church of England Newspaper has announced.

Pastor Flake will be licensed as an Associate Minister at Christ Church in Colne on Thursday, and Pastor Behrens will be given 'Permission to Officiate'.

Overseeing the historic event will be the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, the Bishop of Blackburn. He said, "This is the first such link between the Church of England the Lutheran Church in Germany.

"We are able to do this under the Meissen Agreement that officially encourages links between our two national churches.

"We rejoice that that it's taking place within the Church of England in Lancashire. In a sense, where better? We have a long track record of working ecumenically with other Christian partners and have a long and happy relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Diocese of Braunschweig in Northern Germany. We are so pleased to have two pastors, working with us in this way."

The Rev Mike Hartley, Team Rector of Colne and Villages, said there had been deepening links between their parish and their counterpart in Sud Asses, in Germany.

In particular, several exchange visits have taken place in recent years. Rev Hartley said: "I think it is a wonderful development. We have different backgrounds, but our mission is the same," according to The Church of England Newspaper.