Lutherans to Elect New General Secretary at Geneva Meeting

Opening procession of the 2008 Lutheran World Federation Council meeting in Arusha, Tanzania. (Photo: LWF/D.-M. Grötzsch)

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is scheduled to elect a new general secretary during their Oct. 22-27 council meeting in Geneva.

Succeeding Zimbabwean theologian the Rev. Ishmael Noko, the new general secretary will be elected in a closed session on Thursday following a report from the council's search committee.

Noko announced his resignation at a council meeting in July 2008, saying that he would end his 15-year run at the position in October 2010. The new general secretary is scheduled to take up the post following the next LWF assembly, to be held in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2010.

Potential candidates for the position have been left undisclosed by the LWF in a move that has drawn criticism from some of the body's members.

Finnish Lutheran publication Kotimaa wrotee earlier this month that some church members found the lack of transparency to be an inappropriate means of communication in today's era, according to Ecumenical News International.

Along with the election, other business on the council's agenda this week includes recommendations for renewal within the communion and proposals for action regarding the legacy of Lutheran persecutions of Anabaptists. The theme of the gathering is, "Upholding Human Dignity: Confronting Human Trafficking."

The Lutheran World Federation represents over 68 million Christians in 79 countries around the world. Its council meets every 12 to 18 months.

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