14.4 C
Brussels
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
ReligionChristianityLutheran World Federation chooses Estonian Anne Burghardt as its first woman head

Lutheran World Federation chooses Estonian Anne Burghardt as its first woman head

DISCLAIMER: Information and opinions reproduced in the articles are the ones of those stating them and it is their own responsibility. Publication in The European Times does not automatically means endorsement of the view, but the right to express it.

DISCLAIMER TRANSLATIONS: All articles in this site are published in English. The translated versions are done through an automated process known as neural translations. If in doubt, always refer to the original article. Thank you for understanding.

officialinstitutions
officialinstitutions
News mostly coming from official institutions (officialinstitutions)

More from the author

WHO launches a global health pass

WHO launches a global health pass inspired by the European Covid digital certificate

0
World Health Organization will take up the European Union system of digital COVID certification to establish a global health pass to facilitate global mobility.
National leadership structures are critical parts of an effective anti-trafficking strategy

National leadership structures are critical parts of an effective anti-trafficking strategy

0
National leadership structures are critical parts of an effective anti-trafficking strategy, say participants at annual anti-trafficking meeting
World Bee Day 20 May

World Bee Day 20 May – We all depend on the survival of bees

0
World Bee Day is 20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques
needed to safeguard media freedom and protect democracy

Urgent collective response needed to safeguard media freedom and protect democracy

0
The ninth South East Europe Media Conference, "At a Crossroads: Safeguarding Media Freedom to Protect Democracy,"
(LWF Photo: Erik Peinar)Estonian theologian Rev. Anne Burghardt was elected to be the first woman general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation on June 19, 2021.

The Lutheran World Federation has elected 45-yeard-old Estonian theologian Rev. Anne Burghardt as its next General Secretary and she is the first woman and Central East European to head the 77-million strong communion of Lutherans.

Burghardt was chosen in a virtual election on June 19 conducted by the 48-strong LWF Council, the main governing body of the communion that meets between its assemblies normally once a year.

She will be the first woman and the first Central Eastern European to hold this leadership position.

Rev. Burghardt and Zimbabwean pastor Rev. Kenneth Mtata were shortlisted for the position earlier in June by a search committee appointed by the LWF Council, which elected her at its June 18-23 online meeting.

Mtata is currently General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.

Burghardt received 28 votes (58 percent), Mtata received 20 votes (42 percent) after 48 votes were cast. There were no abstentions.

The LWF is a global communion of 148 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing more than 77 million Christians in 99 countries.

Burghardt is currently serving as Head of Development for the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church’s (EELC) Institute of Theology and advisor to the church for international and ecumenical relations.

She will take over as LWF’s new head at the beginning of November, succeeding Rev. Martin Junge, a Chilean, who has led the communion of 148 member churches for the past 11 years.

At its meeting in Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva in October 2009, the LWF Council elected Junge as LWF general secretary to succeed the Zimbabwean theologian Ishmael Noko. The handover took place on November 1, 2010.

“In accepting this very special responsibility in the communion, I pray for the guidance of God’s Spirit,” Burghardt said after the announcement of her election.

“I rejoice in having the possibility to work with the Council, with member churches, and with different partners, as the LWF continues to participate in God’s holistic mission.

“May God bless our communion so that it may be a blessing to the wider church and to the world.”

LWF President, Nigerian Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa said, “She will be taking up a vital role in the leadership of our global communion of churches, helping to shape its ongoing journey and witness to the gospel, working for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Burghardt studied theology at the University of Tartu in Estonia, at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, and at the Humboldt University in Berlin.

She has a Master of Theology and is currently finishing PhD studies in the field of Orthodox liturgics.

She is married to Rev. Arnd Matthias Burghardt, also an ordained pastor of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and they have two children.

- Advertisement -
- EXCLUSIVE CONTENT -spot_img
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Must read

Latest articles

- Advertisement -