AGM

Every year the Society holds an Annual General Meeting. So far these have been in London but have been attended by members from all over Europe and from the USA .

The meetings themselves are very short. The usual reports are given and officers and committee members are elected. The rest of the time is given over to consideration of a special topic or theme.

The most recent was on Saturday 8th March, 2008 at St Matthew's Church, Westminster

The business meeting was quite brief.

The new constitution was adopted.

The Co-Moderators reported that the Society has continued to flourish in 2007. The website has become established and receives frequent visits, and The Window, which was published four times, has kept members in touch with our own activities and events in the wider Anglican and Lutheran worlds.

The Treasurer's report revealed a surplus for the year of £1,454.

The Officers and Executive Committee members were elected as follows:

Co-Moderators: The Rt Rev Rupert Hoare (Anglican) and The Rev Tom Bruch (Lutheran)

Secretary: The Rev Roy Long (Lutheran)

Treasurer: The Rev Canon Guy Smith (Anglican)

Committee: Mrs Valerie Phillips (Lutheran), Mrs Helen Harding (Anglican), The Rev Siggi Arnarson (Lutheran), Canon Dick Lewis (Anglican), The Rev Jochen Dallas (Lutheran), The Rev Patrick Irwin (Anglican)

Observer: Fr Phillip Swingler (Roman Catholic)

The topic for the rest of the day was a celebration of the Icelandic priest-poet, Hallgrimur Petursson (1614-1674). His 'Passion Hymns', telling the story of the passion of Christ, have provided Icelanders with spiritual support during the most difficult times in their national and personal history. They are read, all fifty of them, on Icelandic State Radio during the season of Lent. The largest church in Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, is named in his honour.

The Icelandic Ambassador in London, His Excellency Mr Sverrir Gunnlaugsson, under whose patronage this part of the event took place, welcomed the large audience.

Dr Einar Sigurbjornsson from the University of Iceland described Hallgrimur's theology, his place within the Lutheran tradition, and the spiritual importance of the 'Passion Hymns'.

Dr Margret Eggertsdottir of the Arni Magnusson Institute in Reykjavik spoke of his place within the literary heritage both of Iceland and of Western Europe as a whole.

The Rev Berhardur Gudmundsson of the National Church of Iceland described the place and significance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland among all the other Churches of the world.

All three papers can be found on our 'Papers and Publications' page. Just click here.

The day ended with a celebration of the Lord's Supper according to the Icelandic Rite.

The 2007 AGM took place on Saturday 10th March at the Finnish Church, 33 Albion Street, Rotherhithe, London SE16 7HZ.

After reports from the officers thanks were expressed to the Rt Rev Erik Vikström, Bishop of Porvoo (Borga), Finland, who, after serving for 11 years, had resigned as Co-President of the Society. In appreciation of his enormous contribution he was made a Life Member of the Anglican   Lutheran Society, a distinction he shares with Ronald Englund, a former Lutheran Co-Moderator.

The meeting was delighted to learn that the Rt Rev Jürgen Johannesdotter, Bishop of Shaumburg-Lippe in Germany, had been invited to succeed Bishop Erik, and his appointment was received with acclamation.

A full report of the meeting appeared in the May 2007 issue of The Window.

The theme for the day was 'Touching the Fringe', a consideration of some of the ways in which Anglican and Lutheran congregations are trying to draw people on the edges of the Church into a deeper relationship with Christ.

Bishop Erik in an excellent paper reminded members that it is in the fringe areas, where life is uncertain and risky, that the Holy Spirit seems to prefer to work. Then, after lunch, the Rev Ian Mobsby, Priest Missioner to the Moot Community and Associate Missioner to the Archbishops' 'Fresh Expressions' team, described a number of ways in which Christian congregations in England are engaging in mission by encouraging new and different expressions of church life.

The day ended with a celebration of the Finnish 'Thomas Mass' at which members of the Society were joined by a group of young people from Sweden who had come to England with their Pastor, herself a member, to find out about church life here.

In 2006, in Southwark Cathedral, our meeting focused on the question, ‘Must ethical issues necessarily be Church dividing?' The papers read by Kenneth G. Appold of the Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg and Jeremy Morris of Trinity Hall, Cambridge can be found by clicking here .

In 2005, in the Swedish Church, the life and achievements of Danish theologian, educationalist and hymn writer Nicolai Grundtvig were introduced and evaluated by Canon Donald Allchin and Professor Sid Bradley. We also enjoyed singing a number of Grundtvig's hymns during our worship together.

 

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