WELCOME TO THE ANGLICAN LUTHERAN SOCIETY

Mrs Dorothy Knights, a member of the Society, would like members to know about a seminar:

Theology from a Gender Perspective in a Protestant Country

to be held in Scottish Churches House, Dunblane; Scotland, (an ecumenical centre owned by the churches)

21st-25th April 2008

Cost 225 Euros

This seminar is the third in a series and follows on directly from the one held in St.Petersburg which was centred on an Orthodox country. We are fortunate in that the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rev.Sheilagh Kesting, the first woman minister to hold this position, will be able to join us during the seminar, along with theologians from different Protestant backgrounds. There will be an opportunity to visit the Scottish Parliament, guided by the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer, Graham Blount, and to see a little of the country itself. Other speakers will be Dr. Lesley Orr McDonald, University lecturer, published author and member of the Iona Community, Heather Walton, lecturer in practical theology at Glasgow University, and the Very Rev. Alan McDonald of St. Andrews, a former Moderator of the General Assembly.

You can download a registration form or scholarship application form on www.efecw.net/projects.html

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Icelandic Branch formally launched

On 14th March 2008, sixteen months after the exploratary gathering described below, the first meeting of the Icelandic Branch of the Society took place in Neskirja in Reykjavik.

The Bishop of Skalholt addressed the gathering, a report of the Dublin Conference was given, and the Revs Bjarni Bjarnason and Orn Bardur Jonsson shared their experiences of working in the United Kingdom and Spain under the Porvoo arrangements. Then Addsa Steina Bjornsdottir gave an update on ecumenical affairs in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland.

So the new divison of the Anglican-Lutheran Society in Iceland has been officially launched. The board members are the Rev Bjarni Thor Bjarnason (National Co-ordinator), the Rev. Lena Ros Matthiasdottir, Jon Omar Gunnarsson and Haraldur Hreinsson. They will work together in promoting the work of the Society. For further details contact the Rev Bjarni Bjarnason srbjarni@grafarvogskirkja.is

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The 2007 Conference

was held in Dublin, Ireland from Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th September

'Aspects of Reconciliation'

This was a broad topic and with the help of an international panel of speakers we explored a wide range of theological, political, sociological and ecclesiological challenges confronting our Churches today. There were plenty of opportunities to meet people engaged at first hand in different parts of the world in all kinds of aspects of the work of reconciliation. We explored the city of Dublin and to enjoyed some of Ireland's beautiful countryside.

For a report of the Conference click here.

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Icelandic Lutherans express interest in the Society

Steinunn Arnþrúður Björnsdóttir is Ecumenical and Communications Officer for the Evangelical Church of Iceland. Here she describes a significant meeting that took place recently in Iceland

Twenty five people gathered on a Friday morning in November 2006 in the church of Grafarvogur, a suburb in Reykjavik, to disuss the possibility of establishing an Icelandic branch of the Anglican Lutheran Society.

Among those present were the bishop of Iceland, the Most Rev. Karl Sigurbjörnsson, the suffragan bishop of Holar, the Rt. Rev. Jon A. Baldvinsson, and the British Ambassador in Iceland, His Excellency Alp Mehmet.

Canon Dick Lewis, Vicar of Christ Church and St. Mark's in Watford, England, and a member of the ALS committee, gave a very lively introduction to the Anglican Lutheran Society. He stressed that it is a society for the ordinary pastor or lay person as well as for people with special responsibility for ecumenism within their Churches.

Establishing friendships between Anglicans and Lutherans has always been an important aspect of the Society's work. Dick illustrated how this was achieved in a variety of ways. Conferences provide opportunities for considering important topics and sharing worship in a holiday atmosphere that enables people to get to know one another. From those contacts mutual exchanges become possible between individual members and then between the Lutheran or Anglican congregations to which they belong. Whatever form these exchanges may take, visits or personal communication, they help to expand horizons and create networks of prayer.

It was clear from the frequent bouts of laughter that the audience was not merely being informed but engaged and also entertained - a good start for what we hope will become a strong Icelandic presence in the Anglican Lutheran Society.

Siggi Arnason, Bjarni Bjarnason, Bishop Karl Sigurbjörnsson, Canon Dick Lewis and Bishop Jon Baldvinsson at the meeting in Reykjavik.

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