Reception of Mennonite-Lutheran Dialogues

Mennonite World Conference President Danisa Ndlovu of Zimbabwe presents Lutheran World Fellowship President Bishop Mark S. Hanson with a wooden foot-washing tub to represent Mennonites' commitment to a future “when the distinguishing mark of Lutheran and Anabaptist-Mennonite relationships is boundless love and unfailing service” in Stuttgart, Germany.[1]

This page contains papers, press releases, and other materials related to Mennonite-Lutheran dialogues -- both formal and informal -- and their impact in Mennonite and Lutheran communities in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

Official Papers and Reports

Right Remembering in Anabaptist-Lutheran Relations (.pdf)

Report of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Mennonite Church USA Liaison Committee, 2004.

Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America on the Condemnation of the Anabaptists (.pdf)

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Church Council, 2006.

Healing Memories - Reconciling in Christ: Report of the Lutheran-Mennonite International Study Commission (.pdf)

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Mennonite World Conference (MWC), 2010.

Action on the Legacy of Lutheran Persecution of “Anabaptists” (.pdf)

Recommended by the LWF Council, October 2009; approved by the LWF Eleventh Assembly, Stuttgart, July 2010.

Mennonite-Lutheran Reconciliation in USA

Articles and Press Releases	Notes
""Coming Together." February 27, 2012. Warwick River Mennonite Church.	Mennonite/Lutheran worship service.
“Healing Memories: Reconciling in Christ." 2012(?). Advent Lutheran Church.	Dialogue between local Lutheran and Mennonite congregations in Harleysville, PA.
“Mennonites, Lutherans Reconcile 500-Year-Old Rift." May 18, 2011. Southeastern PA Synod, ELCA.	Lutherans and Mennonites share communion in Southeastern PA.
Gafkjen, Bishop Bill. “About Your Synod: Reconciliation among Lutherans and Mennonites.” May 2012. I-K Lutheran.	Lutheran account of Elkhart, IN, tree planting.
Kauffman, Johnny. “Interchurch guests to attend Pittsburgh 2011.” June 17, 2011. The Mennonite.	Representatives from ELCA and other Christian denominations present at delegate session and dinner at 2011 MCUSA convention in Pittsburgh.
Klassen, Mary E. “Events mark reconciliation among Lutherans and Mennonites.” April 18, 2012. Mennonite Church USA.	Tree planting service in Elkhart, Indiana.
Ruth, John and Bishop Claire Burkat. “Sounding the Gospel of our common Christ: Lutherans and Mennonites move toward right relationships." May 6, 2011. Franconia Conference Intersections.	Mennonite/Lutheran dialogue/reconciliation in Franconia, PA. Also see: PDF version of Intersections
Yoder, Evangeline. “Lutherans reconcile with Virginia Peninsula Mennonite congregations." November 1, 2010. Virginina Mennonite Missions.	Reconciliation service in Newport News, VA.

Mennonite-Lutheran Reconciliation in Canada

Articles and Press Releases	Notes
Reimer, Margaret Loewen. “Lutherans, Mennonites study together”." January 23, 2012. Canadian Mennonite.	Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201201/2586718691.html
Reimer, Margaret Loewen and Allen G. Jorgenson. "HEALING MEMORIES, RECONCILING IN CHRIST: A LUTHERAN-MENNONITE STUDY GUIDE FOR CONGREGATIONS." Commissioned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Mennonite Church Canada.	Online Study Guide: http://www.elcic.ca/Documents/Lutheran-MennoniteStudyGuidefinal_web.pdf
Rogalsky, Dave. “Heartfelt apology: Faith Mennonite welcomes Lutherans on Reformation Sunday.” January 10, 2011. Canadian Mennonite.	Shared worship in Leamington, Ont. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201101/2236084221.html
Petkau, Evelyn Rempel.“Meeting our neighbours: GOD AT WORK IN THE CHURCH. Lutheran and Mennonite congregations eat, pray and learn together.” May 5, 2012. Canadian Mennonite.'	Shared services and meals in Winnipeg. Online http://www.readperiodicals.com/201203/2609261521.html
Suderman, Brenda. “Lutherans and Mennonites celebrate new relationship.” December 31, 2010. Winnipeg Free Press.	Shared service and celebration. Online:http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/fyi/lutherans-and-mennonites-celebrate-new-relationship-112711644.html
“Snapshots: Gold at work in the Church.” April 16, 2012. Canadian Mennonite.	Shared evening meetings and study in Waterloo. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201204/2657044601.html
Rogalsky, Dave. “'Intermarriage' leads to peaceful co-existence: Southwestern Ontario Lutherans and Mennonites have long been reconciled.” June 27, 2011. Canadian Mennonite.	Local congregations meeting together. Online:http://www.readperiodicals.com/201106/2387626451.html
Froese, Deborah. “'Fraternal visit' affirms Lutheran, Mennonite reconciliation." October 18, 2010. Canadian Mennonite.	Church leaders meet together. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201010/2184066071.html
Dyck, Dan. “Lutherans welcome a humbled Mennonite.” August 22, 2011. Canadian Mennonite.	Mennonite worships at Lutheran convention in Saskatoon. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201108/2436175301.html
Petkau, Evelyn Rempel. “Lutherans, Mennonites break bread together." November 14, 2011. Canadian Mennonite.	Shared communion and meal in Springstein, Manitoba. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201111/2519322441.html
Benner, Dick. “'Rattling everyone's paradigms': Professors switch theological sides in Mennonite/Lutheran conversations.” January 10, 2011. Canadian Mennonite.	Seminary professors converse Wilfrid Laurier University. Online: http://www.readperiodicals.com/201101/2236084201.html

Mennonite-Lutheran Reconciliation in Latin America

Articles and Press Releases	Notes	Excerpt Translations:
“Lutherans and Mennonites Affirm Joint Concerns for Peace: Reconciliation Action Can Create ‘New Scenarios of Hope.’” April 16, 2010. Lutheran World Federation.	Joint celebration in BOGOTÁ, Colombia. Online: http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/lutherans-and-mennonites-affirm-joint-concerns-for-peace.html
“RECONCILIACION DE MENONITAS Y LUTERANOS.” May 10, 2011. Iglesia Anabautista Menonita de Buenos Aires.	Shared celebration and reconciliation in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Online:http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=220788441267623&comments	“In Buenos Aires, Mennonites and Lutherans have coexisted for years without interacting with each other. But now is the time when we should really start to relate and the first thing we will do is gather together to celebrate this reconciliation…. This will take place Sunday, May 15, at the Evangelical German Church at 162 Esmeralda St., Buenos Aires, at 17 o’clock. We invite the Mennonites and Lutherans of Buenos Aires and of Argentina, friends of other churches, and anyone who appreciates the fact that in a world full of violence, gestures of unity and understanding can be made…. Through personal testimonies, we will relive the emotional moments experienced in Paraguay and Germany when the reconciliation was formalized. We will hear a life testimony from a Mennonite and from a Lutheran, we will read biblical passages central to both traditions, we will pray together, and under the direction of master Homero Perera, we will sing hymns and songs from both traditions as well as songs and hymns that we all Christians share….
Meurer, Heitor. “Luteranos y menonitas celebran paz y perdón." April 16, 2010. Agencia Latinoamericana y Carbibena de Comunicacion.	Shared gathering in Bogota, Colombia. Online:http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?lang=687&codigo=16634	“As a concrete step towards the apology given be the Lutheran community towards Mennonites, the Pre-Assembly of the FLM of Bogotá, which met this week, made space to share experiences, acceptances, and mutual understandings…. Through a delegation of the Colombian Mennonite Church, coordinated by pastor/president Tomas Orjuela and the vice-pastor/president Isdalia Ortega, the Lutherans had the opportunity to better understand the work of Mennonites in the country and the region. “This action of yours, Lutherans, demonstrates much humility and we are touched,” commented Ricardo Esquivia, director of the Mennonite NGO Sowing Peace. For Mennonite pastor Ricardo Pinzon, “in a globalized world we need to globalize peace and non-violent incentives. With your attitude, we can build, through forgiveness and reconciliation, new scenes of hope.”
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Mennonite-Lutheran Reconciliation in Europe

Articles and Press Releases	Notes
Rempel, Ron. “Tree plantings mark deepening of Mennonite-Lutheran relations." November 10, 2011. Mennonite World Conference.	Tree planting in Wittenberg, Germany. Online: http://www.mwc-cmm.org/index.php/news-releases/129-tree-plantings-mark-deepening-of-mennonite-lutheran-relations
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Press on Stuttgart 2010

Articles and Press Releases	Notes
"Apology Given for Mennonites Persecution." August 12, 2010. The Christian Index.
"...and Forgive Us: Lutherans Repent Anabaptist Persecution." (.pdf) Lutheran World Information 06, 2010. The Lutheran World Federation. (LWF newsletter)
"Lutherans Take Historic Step in Asking for Forgiveness from Mennonites." July 22, 2010, www.lutheranworld.org.
Esposito, Nicolas. "Lutherans Ask Forgiveness from Mennonites." July 23, 2010. Ecumenical News.
Mast-Kirschning, Ulrike. “Lutherans reconcile with Mennonites 500 years after bloody persecution.” July 26, 2010. Deutsche Welle.

See also Ecumenical Dialogue, Mennonite-Lutheran Dialogue.