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Two More Significant Ecumenical Speeches at the LWF Assembly
First, during the worship after the public apology and forgiveness between Lutherans and Mennonites, Larry Miller, the General Secretary of the Mennonite World Conference, gave a brief testimony, which included this admission: “At times, our versions of martyr stories have reduced complex history to simple morality tales of good and evil, in which historical actors are either Christ-like or violent. At times, we have remembered Lutheran reformers primarily for their arguments and actions against Anabaptists, thereby minimizing the broader theological contribution of these reformers to the Christian church and, indeed, to our own movement...
First, during the worship after the public apology and forgiveness between Lutherans and Mennonites, Larry Miller, the General Secretary of the Mennonite World Conference, gave a brief testimony, which included this admission:
“At times, our versions of martyr stories have reduced complex history to simple morality tales of good and evil, in which historical actors are either Christ-like or violent.
“At times, we have remembered Lutheran reformers primarily for their arguments and actions against Anabaptists, thereby minimizing the broader theological contribution of these reformers to the Christian church and, indeed, to our own movement.
“At times, we have claimed the martyr tradition as a badge of Christian superiority. We sometimes nurtured an identity rooted in victimization that could foster a sense of self-righteousness and arrogance, blinding us to the frailties and failures that are also deeply woven into our tradition.
“We too are communities in need of healing and forgiveness. In this action between us there is, for Anabaptist-Mennonites also, the promise of release and renewal.
“Lord, help us to remember rightly. Lord, inspire us to speak truthfully. Lord, enable us to walk humbly.”
I should add it was particularly fitting that this event happened in Stuttgart, because it is the final resting place (in the Stiftkirche) of the Wuerttemberg reformer Johannes Brenz, who was the most prominent of the early Lutheran theologians to oppose any use of political force in matters of religious dispute. It was a good way to honor his memory and heed, at last, his counsel.
Earlier that day we heard the assembly's keynote address from Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. It should be no surprise to learn that it was a wonderful address, since he is one of the preeminent theologians alive today. It was a wonderful weaving of the assembly’s theme of “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread” with the theology of the Lord’s Supper, God-given human dignity inherent in every person, and the transformative power of repentance and forgiveness in the Lutheran-Mennonite action. You can read his whole address online; please do!