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Global Lutheran Warming
Abstract: International Lutheran Council and Lutheran World Federation meet and make nice. Polar ice caps melting.
Representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the International Lutheran Council met February 25-26 in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss a number of theological topics including relations with other Christian bodies, the differing meanings of "membership" in the two organizations, the significance of baptism and the relation of ecclesial bodies to the one body of Christ.
As stipulated by a 2005 "Memorandum of Understanding", leaders of the two groups meet annually in order to foster communication and understanding between the two organizations which together represent most of the world's Lutherans.
Both groups acknowledged the importance of mutual respect, good will, and open communication,in the hope that "worrisome reports" about each other's activities could be checked out and discussed directly.
Plans for observing the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017 were discussed extensively.
The "Memorandum of Understanding" was reviewed, and no changes were made. The possibility of future documents to express agreements about practice was discussed. Planners are looking for a site in the Philippines for the 2009 meeting.
The group issued a Communique summarizing the results of the meeting.
