Central Riga with St Peterâs Church tower visible on the left-hand side. Photo: Unsplash/Martin Kleppe
Statement says dialogue is required to assess relations
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has issued a statement in response to the decision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL) to join the International Lutheran Council (ILC).
The decision was approved by the ELCL’s General Synod at a meeting on 6 August.
The statement notes that “membership criteria in the ILC subject churches to a set of theological principles, commitments, and practices,” several of which “are at odds with what LWF member churches hold in common.”
The LWF says that “dialogue is required”, adding that it has “reached out to the leadership of the ELCL to understand how it sees its ongoing relationship with the LWF as a communion of churches.” The ELCL has been a member of the LWF since 1963.
