the 13th international seminar from february 27th, 2016 · the 13th international seminar from...
TRANSCRIPT
The 13th
International Seminar from February 27th
until March 12th
, 2016
Theme: Church and responsibility for the world- Prof. Dr. Walter Altmann (Sao Leopoldo,
Brazil) and Prof. Dr. Lubomir Bátka (Bratislava, Slovakia)
Here you can read statements of participants:
Rev. Patras Marandi Satar,Nepal
Evangelical Lutheran Church, It is a great
privilege for me to participate in a 13th
International Seminar in Wittenberg. This
seminar has been an inspiring experience in
my ministry life. Pastors and church leaders
coming together from all over the world and
having discussion on the common issue or
common theme is a blessing for me. I could
understand the historical background of
Lutheran by site seeing. I found a friendly
relationship from the wonderful people of
God in this seminar. Thanks to LWF
Wittenberg center for organizing such an
important seminar. Thanks for your love
and caring.
Rev. Amani Daniel Kabelege, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania – Southern Diocese
The 13th International Seminar on Church and Responsibility to the World has made me grow a
greater height in Lutheran Theology and in my
daily ministry to the people of God as a Pastor.
Study Tours in the places of Martin Luther,
Philip Melanchthon, Katarina von Bora,
etc. have changed me to become an eye witness
of some of the Reformation History places and
part of its 500th Anniversary preparations of
which I had learned verbally and by reading
books.
I have the honor to convey my sincere gratitude
to the leadership and all staffs of the LWF,
LWF- Wittenberg Centre, and the ELCT -
Southern Diocese for enabling me to be a
participant in this important 13th International
Seminar.
May our LORD Jesus Christ bless you all.
Rev. Enelda Gloribel Rubio, The Salvadoran
Lutheran Synod
Assisting the 13th International seminar in
Wittenberg has been a very rewarding
theological experience. Reviewing Martin Luther
writings has brought me more knowledge to be
of a great value to my pastoral ministry.
Thanks to the organizers of the LWF Center in
Wittenberg. Blessings. Gloribel of El Salvador
Pastor Cletus Mumuni Alale, Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Ghana
I wish to express my profound gratitude’s first
to Almighty God, LWF and you for given me
this opportunity to participate in this seminar.
It has been a blessing to me and ELCG. I have
really enjoyed lectures by two professors and
tour to various history places within Wittenberg
other places. I pray that God will bless all those
contributed financial and spiritual for this
seminar. I also thank my colleagues for
socialization and safe journey back home.
Thanks and God blessing.
Rev. Daniel Mono, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania, South East of Lake
Victoria Diocese
Reflecting Luther's writings while in
Wittenberg for two weeks, inspired me to
continue to be a faithful Lutheran. It is
Important for every Lutheran Pastor to reflect in
Luther's writings where they are because they
help someone understand the meaning of being
a Lutheran. Thank you for having me this
wonderful opportunity.
Rev. Gunhild Ingela Maria Winqvist Hollman,
Church of Sweden
Reading Luther in English (rather than in
Swedish or German, as I have done before) was
new to me, and most relevant for exploring
further the significance of a globally shared
Lutheran legacy. But then again, reading texts
was not half as important as actually getting
together with people from all over the world and
finding friends among them!
Pastor Etienne Momtott, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Cameroon
It was a very genuine blessing to be part of
this 13th seminar. We have being living
and sharing Martin Luther's thinking in
different ways: social, economy, political,
theology and spiritual. This is very
challenging for us as pastor and for our
churches today where ever we are. Thank
you people for the fellowship and rich
experiences. Your input is welcome in any
time of my life. Pray for the lord give us
health, knowledge and skill to challenge
the world by faith to live peacefully and
faithfully. Hopefully, we will meet if it is not on earth it could be in heaven. Let stay in touch by
prayer and by mail or facebook. I'm looking forward to come to the anniversary, if it is possible.
I'm proud be Lutheran by the grace of God and servant of God. Please, you may read on behalf of
me Psalm 133. I thank you and I thank the for everything you have done, accommodation and
knowledge
Rev. Henriett Cairns-Lengyel,
Evangelical-Lutheran Church in
Hungary
These two weeks provided a
great opportunity for all of us:
- To have a better understanding
of whom we are and where do
we come from.
- To learn from each other.
- To share our different opinions,
views and experiences and
reflect on them and through all
this
- To become more responsible
children of God.
Rev. Johnson Ashok Kumar
Jesudoss, Arcot Lutheran Church,
India
Wittenberg, place of sense and reason
where Brother Luther lived and this is
what I felt while visiting here. Luther
made sense not only in Christian Life,
but in the life of humanity. Yes, it was
proved in his pen when he inked on
Education, Economy, Warfare,
Government, Parenthood and
Citizenship to witness God in the
world. Let these things help me to live
as a human being.
Pastor Joona Matias Toivanen, Estonian
Evangelical Lutheran Church
I must admit that I didn't know what to
expect when I arrived in Wittenberg to
attend this seminar. It was difficult to
imagine that Luther’s writings would have
inspiring content for the variety of social
situations for Lutherans from different
cultures across the world. However this
international seminar in Wittenberg has
been a rewarding experience and I have
learnt much. It was wonderful to meet
Lutheran pastors from all over the world
and really see and understand that Triune
God is working through all of us in his
church everywhere. Soli Deo Gloria!
Rev. Joseph Bernandus Emirit,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
The seminar has given an insight into
sacred scriptures to understand divine
revelations which in turn paves way to
strengthen the relationship with God.
Thanks!
Pastor Kathleen Jean Baker, Lower Susquehanna
Synod, ELCA, Harrisburg, PA, USA
Thank you to the Lutheran World Federation for
providing this 13th International Seminar in
Wittenberg. The finest professors of theology
combined with a diverse gathering of students from
around the world, brought together by a
compassionate, dedicated and efficient staff, in
historic Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a living
testament to God's work in the world. From the
people of Biblical times through the reformation
through today and into tomorrow, we are an integral
part of God's journey with God's people.
Wittenberg, place of sense and reason where Brother Luther lived and this is what I felt while
visiting here. Luther made sense not only in Christian Life, but in the life of humanity. Yes, it
was proved in his pen when he inked on Education, Economy, Warfare, Government, Parenthood
and Citizenship to witness God in the world. Let these things help me to live as a human being.
.
Pastor Luis Jao, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Mozambique
I am happy to be here, in 13th International
Seminar. For me, all the topics were
important, because I have opportunity to
know other Christians and theologians.
The freedom and the bondage of the Spirit.
For faith, a Christian is a perfectly free Lord
of all, subject to none. and for love, a
Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all,
subject to all. =LOVE ONE ANATHER=
Liberated by Gods grace, a communion in
Christ, living and working together and in
reconciled world.
Rev. Reshma Paul Wellington Katam,
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, India
Seminar: A time machine which takes you to
the time of reformation. An excellent journey
all through met Luther saw Melanchthon and
others. Great experience. Thanks.
Pastor Isaac Sissou, Church of the Lutheran
Brethren of Cameroon
Thank you very much to God to giving me the
opportunity to take part of the 13th
International Seminar for the year 2016 in
Wittenberg.
For me the seminar was well appreciated and I
hope with all my wishes, the perennial
repetition of this experience.
Yes, we have learned about Luther’s ideas of
his time, for the next seminars, I think it is
better also, that the participants learn more
about the actuality of Luther: what his
vocation could teach the Christians in
particular and the society in general to facing
the secular evolution today.
God bless all those who providing the possibilities for the good organization of the seminar.
Pastor Sören Wogensen, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Denmark, Ribe Stift
Wonderful days in Wittenberg with time for
reflection in historical surroundings.
Lutheran Christianity is a living
Christianity, and it is being reflected in the
light of contemporary society while
respecting the historical dimension.
Rev. Steven Lawrence, LWF/DMD/Asia Desk/Asia
Regional Office, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It was interesting to go back in time to interact with
Luther's writings and to compare what happened
then during the Reformation in the 16th century with
contemporary issues of the present day society of the
21st century
Rev. Thomas Samuel Drobena, Slovak
Zion Synod, ELCA, Connecticut, USA
The international seminars provide an
unequaled opportunity to see the
Reformation in action through people from
all over the world-- not as a historical
footnote from the Wittenberg of 500 years
ago, but as the lively work of the Holy
Spirit that still challenges and transforms
His Church all over the world and brings us
together in ever-renewed thirst for the
Gospel.
Pastor Tonya Lynn Eza, Montana Synod, ELCA,
Wyoming, USA
The last time I was in Wittenberg was in 1995, which
is 21 years ago now, and I thought I knew what this
town was about. But I was wrong: I have learned so
much from attending the LWF Luther Seminar. What
a thrill to wrestle with Luther’s theology in the town
which became his almost 500 years after he nailed
the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church! And
how wonderful to meet Christian brothers and sisters
from around the world and hear their perspectives on
Martin Luther and the Lutheran faith! Thank you to
LWF for this wonderful opportunity.
Pastor Jean Niaina Valisoa Augustin
Randrianirina, Malagasy Lutheran Church
I am very pleased to be here in Wittenberg. It
is wonderful and exciting study on Luther s
theology and his story. Well organized and
equipped but one question raises what is the
main criteria to be teacher of Seminar (It does
not mean that I am not satisfied on the teacher,
no by mean. They are very strong and able
men). Thank you millions, God may bless you
and your staff.
Bishop Sithembiso Nelson Ntsikelelo Ngqakayi, Moravian
Church in South Africa
1. It was a wonderful and unique opportunity for me to interact, in
person, with fellow Christian leaders from sixteen different
countries of the Lutheran World.
2. The seminar was well organized and, as a result it, was very
educational especially the lectures on Luther's writings as
facilitated by the two Professors, no doubt about that.
3. Lastly, I would like to reflect on travel arrangements. While
financial considerations will always be a factor in this regard,
however I feel direct flights to Germany for countries that have
such flights like my own country are preferred. Not only are
participants spared extra fatigue but unfortunate incidents like my
lost luggage are prevented.