Lutherans urged to ordain more women
The Lutheran World Federation was challenged by its outgoing general secretary, the Rev. Ishmael Noko, to live up to its inclusive vision by ordaining women across the globe. Meeting in Germany, the LWF will also hear from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams today, July 22nd:
Global Lutheran leader challenges churches on women's ordination
From Ecumenical News International online
The 70-million strong Lutheran World Federation has struggled to live up to its own vision of inclusiveness regarding the role of women, the general secretary of the church grouping, the Rev. Ishmael Noko, has told LWF members."Equitable participation in God's mission is the hallmark of an inclusive communion. Member churches are therefore urged to take appropriate steps towards the ordination of women, and, where it is not the case, to put in place policies of equality," Noko said in his address to the LWF's highest governing body on 21 July in Stuttgart, Germany.
. . .
"We are called to be an inclusive communion," said Noko, a Zimbabwean educated in South Africa and Canada. "Without living that calling, we cannot be effective witnesses for justice and inclusiveness in our societies."
Quoting further from the article: "Noko noted that [at the last LWF assembly (2003)] in Winnipeg there was a call to LWF churches to, "undertake theological studies on overcoming the remaining barriers that prevent gender mainstreaming and women's ordination". He rued, however, "In most cases, even assembly or council decisions that received strong support at the time may not enjoy much subsequent follow-up by churches." Noko added that the seventh LWF assembly in 1984 called for a balance of men and women delegates, and he had hoped to achieve that parity in 2010."
I assume these calls are all none binding. It's interesting though that he did broadly name those regions that have not done well ("Pressed by ENInews during a press conference on which regions are ordaining women and which are not, Noko would only say that in different continents some churches ordain women and some do not. There is most resistance to ordaining women in the Africa, Asia and Latin America regions, he said.")
Small footnote: At this 2010 assembly 48% of delegates are women. That's not far from parity. Does The Episcopal Church do as well?
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July 22, 2010 11:55 AM