Retiring Lutheran Leader Reflects on Contributions
Episcopal News Service. October 27, 1994 [94178I]
Retiring general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Gunnar Staalsett said in a recent interview that he regards as his most important contribution a growing shift in the LWF's self-understanding from a loose federation to a communion of churches. "The smaller churches have been strengthened in their self-understanding as member churches of the LWF as a communion. They feel equal to those churches which are bigger, older, richer and have longer traditions," he said before returning to Oslo as rector of a seminary. He said that the LWF will continue as "a strong force within the ecumenical movement" because of a clear understanding by member churches that they are "part of the universal church." He added, "Our self-understanding is not confessionalistic, rather it is one which takes seriously our confessional heritage as a contribution to the life and witness of the universal church." Staalsett hailed the "very cordial relationship with the Anglican Communion" as reflected in the Porvoo Common Statement among Anglican and Lutheran churches in northern Europe, calling for new levels of cooperation. (LWI)