Ethiopian seminary president speaks at second of three Assembly sessions on ‘One Body, One Spirit, One Hope’

“Unity is in the nature of the church,” therefore the task of Christians is to nurture “oneness in spirit” through open, respectful dialogue in pursuit of a common goal. That message was at the heart of a presentation by Rev. Dr Bruk Ayele Asale, President of the Mekane Yesus Seminary (MYS) in Ethiopia, to participants in The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland.

Church leaders and representatives from across the world are gathered for the 13 to 19 September Assembly, LWF’s highest decision-making body.

MYS is the higher theological training institution of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) which, numbering over 12 million members, is the largest of the 150 Lutheran churches making up the global LWF communion. It is a very diverse church, representing different Lutheran and Reformed liturgical traditions, with congregations comprising people from the different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of the country.

Speaking at the second of three plenary sessions addressing the assembly theme, ”One Body, One Spirit, One Hope,” Asale began by noting that the churches’ call to unity is urgent today, just as it was at the time of St Paul when there was “fragmentation and disintegration among God’s children.”

The call to “oneness in spirit is indispensable because all churches sincerely confess and preach that they belong to Christ.”

Rev. Dr Bruk Ayele Asale, President of Ethiopia’s Mekane Yesus seminary.

Reflecting on some of the spirits that cause suffering and division in today’s world, he pointed to “the global systemic oppression, the divide between North and South, East and West, the brutality of the powerful and an endless cry of the powerless.” He spoke about conflicts such as the civil war in his own country, as well as fighting between ethnic groups and clans which have caused deaths and the destruction of churches. “This is the outcome of a spirit of hatred,” he said, “a spirit that is opposed to unity and the Holy Spirit.”

In the religious arena, he noted the “countless misleading theologies” which are used to exploit and control the poor and vulnerable, violating “inherent human dignity, putting the life of people in danger.” This is a problem in many parts of the world, he said, mentioning the recent case in Kenya, where hundreds of followers died from starvation after the cult leader persuaded them to fast to death.

The call to “oneness in spirit is indispensable,” Asale affirmed, “because all churches sincerely confess and preach that they belong to Christ and live for the cause of the gospel.” This call to unity, he continued, refers primarily to the “multidimensional movement of churches and Christians, whose goal is both the visible unity of the churches and an integration of mission, service, and renewal.”

Openness, mutual respect, common goal

Looking back at the history of the ecumenical movement, begun over a century ago, he noted how the search for “oneness in spirit among the churches can and should be built on global, regional and local levels.” It does not mean “succumbing to the identity of the other, he said, but “rather it is about treating all equally and fairly,” realizing that member churches and entire global communions need the collaboration of others in order to confront the challenges of our times.

Progress on the path to unity, he said, requires openness or “readiness to be changed and renewed by what one learns from the other.” Secondly, it requires mutual respect to overcome negative stereotyping and “the tendency to demonize the other without justification.” Thirdly, it requires recognition that all churches share a common goal, “namely serving and worshiping the same Lord to whom the church belongs.”

Though “we may be divided institutionally or physically,” Asale concluded, “we can continue being one in the Spirit, a mystical way of life we experience when we are living in Christ’s union.”

Responses from Chile and Finland

Responding to Asale’s presentation, Bishop Izani Bruch, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile, stressed “how important this unity in the Spirit has been” in her context as leader of a minority church in Latin America. Being part of the LWF “empowers us and sustains us,” she said, because “we know that we are accompanied by the communion of 150 churches and by more than 77 million Lutherans and other churches.” She pointed to the vital support provided by the LWF and the World Council of Churches during 17 years of dictatorship in Chile.

Bruch spoke of the ongoing challenges in her region, including poverty and injustice, exclusion and polarization, hate speech and growing political and religious fundamentalism, as well as misleading theologies that have led to a push back on human rights. In the face of these challenges, she said, “unity in the Spirit is an evangelical mandate, not an option.”

Between heaven and earth

In a second response, Finnish theologian and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in the United States, Rev. Dr Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, drew inspiration from a verse in the book of Ezekiel: “The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven” [Ez 8:3]. From this place, Kärkkäinen said, “we will hear the cries of the Spirit in the midst of enormous suffering and pain,” learning how to discern “between the One Spirit of God and the many other spirits [….] of violence, oppression and greed.”

Basing his words on the acronym of Luther’s name, he spoke firstly of Latitude, how “the Spirit makes room, creates space […] in a world of narrow-minded attitudes and postures.” Secondly, he spoke of the need for Unity in the One Spirit, “not forced uniformity,” but rather unity in diversity. Thirdly, he talked of the spirit of Tenacity, or “the capacity to stand firm for what is right and what is good for all people, all Christians.”

Fourthly, Kärkkäinen reflected on the need for Heartfulness, that is “listening to what the gentle voice of the Spirit is speaking to your heart.” Next, he spoke about Empowerment, or the way the Spirit “empowers the church for prophetic speech and for healing the sick.” Finally, he talked about the need for “ever-continuing, fresh Reformation, which was the theme explored at the previous LWF Assembly in 2017.”

Ethiopian seminary president speaks at second of three Assembly sessions on ‘One Body, One Spirit, One Hope’

“Unity is in the nature of the church,” therefore the task of Christians is to nurture “oneness in spirit” through open, respectful dialogue in pursuit of a common goal. That message was at the heart of a presentation by Rev. Dr Bruk Ayele Asale, President of the Mekane Yesus Seminary (MYS) in Ethiopia, to participants in The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland.

Church leaders and representatives from across the world are gathered for the 13 to 19 September Assembly, LWF’s highest decision-making body.

MYS is the higher theological training institution of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) which, numbering over 12 million members, is the largest of the 150 Lutheran churches making up the global LWF communion. It is a very diverse church, representing different Lutheran and Reformed liturgical traditions, with congregations comprising people from the different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of the country.

Speaking at the second of three plenary sessions addressing the assembly theme, ”One Body, One Spirit, One Hope,” Asale began by noting that the churches’ call to unity is urgent today, just as it was at the time of St Paul when there was “fragmentation and disintegration among God’s children.”

The call to “oneness in spirit is indispensable because all churches sincerely confess and preach that they belong to Christ.”

Rev. Dr Bruk Ayele Asale, President of Ethiopia’s Mekane Yesus seminary.

Reflecting on some of the spirits that cause suffering and division in today’s world, he pointed to “the global systemic oppression, the divide between North and South, East and West, the brutality of the powerful and an endless cry of the powerless.” He spoke about conflicts such as the civil war in his own country, as well as fighting between ethnic groups and clans which have caused deaths and the destruction of churches. “This is the outcome of a spirit of hatred,” he said, “a spirit that is opposed to unity and the Holy Spirit.”

In the religious arena, he noted the “countless misleading theologies” which are used to exploit and control the poor and vulnerable, violating “inherent human dignity, putting the life of people in danger.” This is a problem in many parts of the world, he said, mentioning the recent case in Kenya, where hundreds of followers died from starvation after the cult leader persuaded them to fast to death.

The call to “oneness in spirit is indispensable,” Asale affirmed, “because all churches sincerely confess and preach that they belong to Christ and live for the cause of the gospel.” This call to unity, he continued, refers primarily to the “multidimensional movement of churches and Christians, whose goal is both the visible unity of the churches and an integration of mission, service, and renewal.”

Openness, mutual respect, common goal

Looking back at the history of the ecumenical movement, begun over a century ago, he noted how the search for “oneness in spirit among the churches can and should be built on global, regional and local levels.” It does not mean “succumbing to the identity of the other, he said, but “rather it is about treating all equally and fairly,” realizing that member churches and entire global communions need the collaboration of others in order to confront the challenges of our times.

Progress on the path to unity, he said, requires openness or “readiness to be changed and renewed by what one learns from the other.” Secondly, it requires mutual respect to overcome negative stereotyping and “the tendency to demonize the other without justification.” Thirdly, it requires recognition that all churches share a common goal, “namely serving and worshiping the same Lord to whom the church belongs.”

Though “we may be divided institutionally or physically,” Asale concluded, “we can continue being one in the Spirit, a mystical way of life we experience when we are living in Christ’s union.”

Responses from Chile and Finland

Responding to Asale’s presentation, Bishop Izani Bruch, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile, stressed “how important this unity in the Spirit has been” in her context as leader of a minority church in Latin America. Being part of the LWF “empowers us and sustains us,” she said, because “we know that we are accompanied by the communion of 150 churches and by more than 77 million Lutherans and other churches.” She pointed to the vital support provided by the LWF and the World Council of Churches during 17 years of dictatorship in Chile.

Bruch spoke of the ongoing challenges in her region, including poverty and injustice, exclusion and polarization, hate speech and growing political and religious fundamentalism, as well as misleading theologies that have led to a push back on human rights. In the face of these challenges, she said, “unity in the Spirit is an evangelical mandate, not an option.”

Between heaven and earth

In a second response, Finnish theologian and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in the United States, Rev. Dr Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, drew inspiration from a verse in the book of Ezekiel: “The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven” [Ez 8:3]. From this place, Kärkkäinen said, “we will hear the cries of the Spirit in the midst of enormous suffering and pain,” learning how to discern “between the One Spirit of God and the many other spirits [….] of violence, oppression and greed.”

Basing his words on the acronym of Luther’s name, he spoke firstly of Latitude, how “the Spirit makes room, creates space […] in a world of narrow-minded attitudes and postures.” Secondly, he spoke of the need for Unity in the One Spirit, “not forced uniformity,” but rather unity in diversity. Thirdly, he talked of the spirit of Tenacity, or “the capacity to stand firm for what is right and what is good for all people, all Christians.”

Fourthly, Kärkkäinen reflected on the need for Heartfulness, that is “listening to what the gentle voice of the Spirit is speaking to your heart.” Next, he spoke about Empowerment, or the way the Spirit “empowers the church for prophetic speech and for healing the sick.” Finally, he talked about the need for “ever-continuing, fresh Reformation, which was the theme explored at the previous LWF Assembly in 2017.”

16 SEP 2023

Delegates at Krakow Assembly elect Danish bishop known for his diaconal and ecumenical engagement

(LWI) - Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær has been elected as the new President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to guide the global communion of churches over the coming years. A theologian, who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær is currently serving as head of the diocese of Viborg in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Following his election on Saturday by delegates from around the globe attending the Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland, Stubkjær said the work of the LWF under his leadership will continue to be based on the four pillars upon which the organization was founded: “namely, to work for the needy and oppressed, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology and a common response to the ecumenical challenge.”

I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.

Newly elected LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjaer

The new president affirmed: “My vision for LWF is that we gain added value by working together as a communion striving to put Christian faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness and dialogue.” Noting that “to be Lutheran is to be contextualized,” he said the diversity to be found within different contexts is a sign of the way “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, is nurturing us as member churches [....] to preach the gospel in a relevant way.” Therefore, he added, “I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.”

At the same time, he noted that “the world is being more polarized” and changing very rapidly. He quoted from Pope Francis’ words during the last visit of the LWF to the Vatican to sign an agreement for increased cooperation between LWF World Service and the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic humanitarian agencies. Departing from his official text, the pope told the LWF leadership: “You should beware, that it is in times of changes, the Holy Spirit has the greatest opportunity [for] changing our minds.” In those words, Stubkjær added, is “the sign of hope” that Christian churches are called to be “in the midst of an often-hopeless world.”

Diaconal, ecumenical engagement

Prior to his election as bishop in 2014, Stubkjær served for almost a decade as secretary general of the Danish humanitarian organization DanChurchAid (DCA). Since the LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia, he has been a member of LWF’s governing Council, where he chairs its World Service committee and a member of its executive committee.

Stubkjær has held leadership roles in ACT Alliance. He also chairs an organization which supports homeless men in Denmark to help them overcome alcohol or drug addictions.

Alongside his passion for diaconal and humanitarian work, Stubkjær is renowned for his ecumenical engagement and his focus on theological education. From 2016 to 2019 he served as chair of the National Council of Churches in Denmark. Within the diocese of Viborg, he has encouraged the building of ties with Orthodox migrants from Eastern Europe, as well as with asylum seekers and people of other faiths.

Stubkjær will be formally installed, alongside members of the new Council, during the Assembly’s closing worship on Tuesday afternoon. The first meeting of the new Council under his leadership will take place the following day, 20 September.

Photos - Election of President

16 SEP 2023

Delegates at Krakow Assembly elect Danish bishop known for his diaconal and ecumenical engagement

(LWI) - Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær has been elected as the new President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to guide the global communion of churches over the coming years. A theologian, who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær is currently serving as head of the diocese of Viborg in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Following his election on Saturday by delegates from around the globe attending the Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland, Stubkjær said the work of the LWF under his leadership will continue to be based on the four pillars upon which the organization was founded: “namely, to work for the needy and oppressed, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology and a common response to the ecumenical challenge.”

I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.

Newly elected LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjaer

The new president affirmed: “My vision for LWF is that we gain added value by working together as a communion striving to put Christian faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness and dialogue.” Noting that “to be Lutheran is to be contextualized,” he said the diversity to be found within different contexts is a sign of the way “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, is nurturing us as member churches [....] to preach the gospel in a relevant way.” Therefore, he added, “I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.”

At the same time, he noted that “the world is being more polarized” and changing very rapidly. He quoted from Pope Francis’ words during the last visit of the LWF to the Vatican to sign an agreement for increased cooperation between LWF World Service and the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic humanitarian agencies. Departing from his official text, the pope told the LWF leadership: “You should beware, that it is in times of changes, the Holy Spirit has the greatest opportunity [for] changing our minds.” In those words, Stubkjær added, is “the sign of hope” that Christian churches are called to be “in the midst of an often-hopeless world.”

Diaconal, ecumenical engagement

Prior to his election as bishop in 2014, Stubkjær served for almost a decade as secretary general of the Danish humanitarian organization DanChurchAid (DCA). Since the LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia, he has been a member of LWF’s governing Council, where he chairs its World Service committee and a member of its executive committee.

Stubkjær has held leadership roles in ACT Alliance. He also chairs an organization which supports homeless men in Denmark to help them overcome alcohol or drug addictions.

Alongside his passion for diaconal and humanitarian work, Stubkjær is renowned for his ecumenical engagement and his focus on theological education. From 2016 to 2019 he served as chair of the National Council of Churches in Denmark. Within the diocese of Viborg, he has encouraged the building of ties with Orthodox migrants from Eastern Europe, as well as with asylum seekers and people of other faiths.

Stubkjær will be formally installed, alongside members of the new Council, during the Assembly’s closing worship on Tuesday afternoon. The first meeting of the new Council under his leadership will take place the following day, 20 September.

Photos - Election of President

16 SEP 2023

Delegates at Krakow Assembly elect Danish bishop known for his diaconal and ecumenical engagement

(LWI) - Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær has been elected as the new President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to guide the global communion of churches over the coming years. A theologian, who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær is currently serving as head of the diocese of Viborg in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Following his election on Saturday by delegates from around the globe attending the Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland, Stubkjær said the work of the LWF under his leadership will continue to be based on the four pillars upon which the organization was founded: “namely, to work for the needy and oppressed, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology and a common response to the ecumenical challenge.”

I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.

Newly elected LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjaer

The new president affirmed: “My vision for LWF is that we gain added value by working together as a communion striving to put Christian faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness and dialogue.” Noting that “to be Lutheran is to be contextualized,” he said the diversity to be found within different contexts is a sign of the way “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, is nurturing us as member churches [....] to preach the gospel in a relevant way.” Therefore, he added, “I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.”

At the same time, he noted that “the world is being more polarized” and changing very rapidly. He quoted from Pope Francis’ words during the last visit of the LWF to the Vatican to sign an agreement for increased cooperation between LWF World Service and the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic humanitarian agencies. Departing from his official text, the pope told the LWF leadership: “You should beware, that it is in times of changes, the Holy Spirit has the greatest opportunity [for] changing our minds.” In those words, Stubkjær added, is “the sign of hope” that Christian churches are called to be “in the midst of an often-hopeless world.”

Diaconal, ecumenical engagement

Prior to his election as bishop in 2014, Stubkjær served for almost a decade as secretary general of the Danish humanitarian organization DanChurchAid (DCA). Since the LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia, he has been a member of LWF’s governing Council, where he chairs its World Service committee and a member of its executive committee.

Stubkjær has held leadership roles in ACT Alliance. He also chairs an organization which supports homeless men in Denmark to help them overcome alcohol or drug addictions.

Alongside his passion for diaconal and humanitarian work, Stubkjær is renowned for his ecumenical engagement and his focus on theological education. From 2016 to 2019 he served as chair of the National Council of Churches in Denmark. Within the diocese of Viborg, he has encouraged the building of ties with Orthodox migrants from Eastern Europe, as well as with asylum seekers and people of other faiths.

Stubkjær will be formally installed, alongside members of the new Council, during the Assembly’s closing worship on Tuesday afternoon. The first meeting of the new Council under his leadership will take place the following day, 20 September.

Photos - Election of President

16 SEP 2023

Delegates at Krakow Assembly elect Danish bishop known for his diaconal and ecumenical engagement

(LWI) - Danish Bishop Henrik Stubkjær has been elected as the new President of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to guide the global communion of churches over the coming years. A theologian, who is well known for his diaconal and ecumenical work, Stubkjær is currently serving as head of the diocese of Viborg in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Following his election on Saturday by delegates from around the globe attending the Thirteenth Assembly in Kraków, Poland, Stubkjær said the work of the LWF under his leadership will continue to be based on the four pillars upon which the organization was founded: “namely, to work for the needy and oppressed, common initiatives in mission, joint efforts in theology and a common response to the ecumenical challenge.”

I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.

Newly elected LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjaer

The new president affirmed: “My vision for LWF is that we gain added value by working together as a communion striving to put Christian faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness and dialogue.” Noting that “to be Lutheran is to be contextualized,” he said the diversity to be found within different contexts is a sign of the way “God, through his Son Jesus Christ, is nurturing us as member churches [....] to preach the gospel in a relevant way.” Therefore, he added, “I will see it as my responsibility to secure diversity and that all voices will be heard.”

At the same time, he noted that “the world is being more polarized” and changing very rapidly. He quoted from Pope Francis’ words during the last visit of the LWF to the Vatican to sign an agreement for increased cooperation between LWF World Service and the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic humanitarian agencies. Departing from his official text, the pope told the LWF leadership: “You should beware, that it is in times of changes, the Holy Spirit has the greatest opportunity [for] changing our minds.” In those words, Stubkjær added, is “the sign of hope” that Christian churches are called to be “in the midst of an often-hopeless world.”

Diaconal, ecumenical engagement

Prior to his election as bishop in 2014, Stubkjær served for almost a decade as secretary general of the Danish humanitarian organization DanChurchAid (DCA). Since the LWF Twelfth Assembly in Namibia, he has been a member of LWF’s governing Council, where he chairs its World Service committee and a member of its executive committee.

Stubkjær has held leadership roles in ACT Alliance. He also chairs an organization which supports homeless men in Denmark to help them overcome alcohol or drug addictions.

Alongside his passion for diaconal and humanitarian work, Stubkjær is renowned for his ecumenical engagement and his focus on theological education. From 2016 to 2019 he served as chair of the National Council of Churches in Denmark. Within the diocese of Viborg, he has encouraged the building of ties with Orthodox migrants from Eastern Europe, as well as with asylum seekers and people of other faiths.

Stubkjær will be formally installed, alongside members of the new Council, during the Assembly’s closing worship on Tuesday afternoon. The first meeting of the new Council under his leadership will take place the following day, 20 September.

Photos - Election of President