Lutheran-Mennonite Reconciliation

L to R: Lutheran World Federation General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, Mennonite World Conference President Danisa Ndlovu, LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson

In possibly the most significant legacy of the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (July 2010), the LWF took the historic step of asking the Mennonites for forgiveness for past persecutions. Following this reconciliation, Mennonite Church Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have produced a 4 session study for congregations entitled “Healing Memories, Reconciling in Christ.” The authors are Margaret Loewen Reimer (Mennonite Church Canada) and Allen G. Jorgenson (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada).

Our congregation and Home Street Mennonite Church will be engaging in this study in the New Year. We’ll learn about the histories of our churches, especially during the tumultuous time of the Reformation, and how forgiveness and reconciliation are currently taking place. This is a story we should all know, but, unfortunately, don’t.

The study will take place after worship from 12:30 to 2:00 (including lunch) on four consecutive Sundays: January 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 2012.

We’d like a commitment of 25 people from each of our congregations so that we have a good sized group and so that it’s balanced. A sign-up sheet is in the Parish Hall.

You can preview the study here:

http://elcic.ca/Documents/HealingMemoriesOnlineFinal-March21.pdf

Two sessions will be held here and two at Home Street Mennonite, a congregation very like ours in many, many ways. This will be a good way for our congregations to get to know each other better. If you have any questions about the study, please don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Michael.