2012 World Conference: “What Does This Mean? How do the Scriptures Speak to Crises Facing Confessional Lutherans Today?”
CANADA – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) held its 24th World Conference in Niagara Falls, Canada, from September 16-21, 2012. Church leaders from 33 confessional Lutheran church bodies around the world gathered for the triennial conference.
The conference saw the election of Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt of Germany’s Independent Lutheran Church in Germany (SELK) to serve as Chairman of the ILC. Bishop Voigt had served as Interim Chairman since 2010, when previous Chairman Gerald Kieschnick was reelected as President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As ILC Vice-Chairman at the time, Bishop Voigt was automatically advanced to Interim Chairman.
The convention also saw President Gijsbertus van Hattem elected as Secretary of the Executive Council, as well as world regional representatives. According to the ILC constitution, members elect church bodies rather than individuals to fill the world area roles. Elected to represent the Africa world area was the Lutheran Church of Nigeria. The Lutheran Church of the Philippines will represent the Asia world area. The Latin America world area will be represented by the Lutheran Church of Brazil. For the Europe world area, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in England was elected. Finally, Lutheran Church–Canada was elected to represent the North America world area.
Rev. Dr. Edward Kettner of Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton, Alberta) served as keynote speaker for the conference. Dr. Kettner expanded on the conference theme, explaining the nature of confessional subscription and its relationship to Holy Scripture. Other presentations addressed preaching to a 21st century society; same-sex issues in the church; the ordination of women; and the need of pastors for a Bible-infused.
The conference also welcomed a new member into the ILC: the Lutheran Ministerium and Synod–USA (LMS-USA). Other business included discussion of dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church; plans for the next ILC World Seminaries Conference; and preparations to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
A banquet was held during the conference to honour the service of Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, who served as the founding Executive Director of the ILC following its reconstitution as a council in 1993 until his retirement in 2011.
The ILC’s Executive Committee has appointed Rev. Dr. Albert Collver III to serve as the ILC’s new Executive Director. Dr. Collver succeeds Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan (President Emeritus of Lutheran Church – Canada and former ILC Chairman) who had served as Interim Executive Director following the conclusion of Dr. Nafzger’s service.
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