LWF challenges Christians to Change the World at “Risk of Growing Apart”

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council Meeting 2004 began in Geneva on 31 August. The 49-member Council meets under the theme “Growing Together - Growing Apart”. Rev. Ekkehard Lagoda, German-speaking congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Geneva (ELCG), gave an opening eucharistic service at Chavannes-de-Bogis.

Rev Lagoda’s thoughtful sermon has guided the world’s Lutherans to reflect on their responsibility to social commitment and action to influence change in a world at the risk of “growing apart,” due to the current challenging realities including rampant neo-liberalism.

Based on I Corinthians 11: 17-34, Rev Lagoda presented his vision - the disintegration of the world nowadays is similar to that of Corinth in the age of the Apostles. There are many divisions between Christians nowadays such as the discussion of the sharing of the Holy Communion and Eucharist between confessions. The situation reflects similarly past Christian history.

To solve all the disputes, Rev Lagoda said, “We [must] trust the power of the word of God instead of relying on human jurisdiction.”

As the venue of the event is in Europe, Rev Lagoda especially addressed the social problems on the continent. Facing to the new 25-nation member European Union (EU), Europe has gained a stronger position in the international arena both politically and economically. Currently, the EU is being very ambitious in drafting a common constitution that favours an economic model aimed at an even more competitive global market. Rev Lagoda suggested that a rapid grow in economy without proper control could make Europe “grow apart”, which would cause a division.

He criticised the EU of having no intention even to include a clause on the social liability of property, which constituted a “growing apart without solidarity.”

Therefore, Rev Lagoda urged churches in Europe to make good use of Article 51 (Status of churches and non-confessional organisations) of the new European constitution that allows them an independent authority with regard to the EU. The churches should take up the responsibility to promote values such as solidarity, redistribution and abdication, justice and charity. Instead of just confining to the confession of faith in their own denomination, churches are encouraged to work together in “one common voice”.

Rev Lagoda echoed the expectation of Christians in Europe to the new EU, saying that it is more than a union that binds countries together economically and politically, but it is a strong multi-cultural and multi-religious body. He complimented the host country, Switzerland, a non-EU member, as a model even for the vision of Europe.

He explained, “The country’s culturally heterogeneous cantons from four different language areas have come together to avoid being torn apart by the nationalistically acting political powers around them.”

Rev Lagoda concluded his sermon by calling on all Lutheran churches to take up their responsibility to change the world, “Do not lethargically wait for God’s intervention, but we are called to seek change in people’s hearts so that all may live life in abundance.”