Aug. 2, 2010 issue
Lutherans, Anabaptists reconcile
By Byron Rempel-Burkholder Mennonite World ConferencePage:
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STUTTGART, Germany — Representatives of 70 million Lutherans around the world asked forgiveness July 22 for the violent persecution of Anabaptists in the 16th century.
Mark Hanson, left, president of the Lutheran World Federation, receives a footwashing tub from Danisa Ndlovu, president of Mennonite World Conference, July 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. Ndlovu said the tub was “a sign of our commitment to a future when the distinguishing mark of Lutheran and Anabaptist-Mennonite relationships is boundless love and unfailing service.” — Photo by Erick Coll/Lutheran World Federation
They also apologized for negative portrayals of Anabaptists and Mennonites that have continued in their communities and theological institutions.
Mennonite World Conference representatives acknowledged the request and granted forgiveness.
The landmark action by about 480 delegates from around the world came during the 11th assembly of the Lutheran World Federation. It culminated four years of work by the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission of the LWF and MWC.
The LWF outgoing general secretary, Ishmael Noko of Zimbabwe, said the action would redefine Mennonite-Lutheran relationships.
“Only by rooting out the violence, exclusion and discrimination in our own tradition and practice, … and by seeking to heal memories among us and between us and other church families, can we become credible and effective witnesses for peace and reconciliation,” he said.
The LWF president, Mark S. Hanson, acknowledged Mennonites’ witness of nonviolence in his native United States.
“We have much to learn from you in how to be formed as communities of forgiveness,” he said.
Hanson paid tribute to efforts of the Catholic ecumenical bodies and the Reformed churches, who are also working toward a healing of memories with Mennonites.
MWC representatives were invited to the stage to respond. Introduced by Larry Miller, MWC general secretary, they included Rainer Burkart, co-chair of the Study Commission; treasurer Ernst Bergen of Paraguay; vice president Janet Plenert of Canada; President Danisa Ndlovu of Zimbabwe; and former MWC president Mesach Krisetya of Indonesia.
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