Saturday, July 26, 2008

Lutherans see stronger ties with Anglicans after CofE women bishops vote

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/lutherans.see.stronger.ties.with.anglicans.after.cofe.women.bishops.vote/20924.htm

[Christianity Today UK] 26 Jul 2008--The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has welcomed this month’s decision by the Church of England General Synod to reaffirm its support for women bishops.

In a statement this week, the LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Ishmael Noko said the vote had immediately opened the way for stronger ecumenical ties between Lutheran and Anglican churches and "the fuller recognition and celebration of the gifts of women called to ministry".

He spoke positively of the experience of Lutheran churches with women bishops, since the first consecrations in 1992.

It was, he said, "already clear that the leadership of women in all the roles of ordained ministry has been a blessing to those churches which have experienced it".

Dr Noko went on to state that women bishops in the Church of England would "bring gifts of leadership for the enrichment of the entire Anglican Communion”.

He acknowledged, however, that there were divisions in the LWF as well as the Anglican Communion over the theological grounds for the ordination of women.

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