The 13th

International Seminar from February 27th

until March 12th

, 2016

Theme: Church and responsibility for the world- Prof. Dr. Walter Altmann (Sao Leopoldo,

Brazil) and Prof. Dr. Lubomir Bátka (Bratislava, Slovakia)

Here you can read statements of participants:

Rev. Patras Marandi Satar,Nepal

Evangelical Lutheran Church, It is a great

privilege for me to participate in a 13th

International Seminar in Wittenberg. This

seminar has been an inspiring experience in

my ministry life. Pastors and church leaders

coming together from all over the world and

having discussion on the common issue or

common theme is a blessing for me. I could

understand the historical background of

Lutheran by site seeing. I found a friendly

relationship from the wonderful people of

God in this seminar. Thanks to LWF

Wittenberg center for organizing such an

important seminar. Thanks for your love

and caring.

Rev. Amani Daniel Kabelege, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania – Southern Diocese

The 13th International Seminar on Church and Responsibility to the World has made me grow a

greater height in Lutheran Theology and in my

daily ministry to the people of God as a Pastor.

Study Tours in the places of Martin Luther,

Philip Melanchthon, Katarina von Bora,

etc. have changed me to become an eye witness

of some of the Reformation History places and

part of its 500th Anniversary preparations of

which I had learned verbally and by reading

books.

I have the honor to convey my sincere gratitude

to the leadership and all staffs of the LWF,

LWF- Wittenberg Centre, and the ELCT -

Southern Diocese for enabling me to be a

participant in this important 13th International

Seminar.

May our LORD Jesus Christ bless you all.

Rev. Enelda Gloribel Rubio, The Salvadoran

Lutheran Synod

Assisting the 13th International seminar in

Wittenberg has been a very rewarding

theological experience. Reviewing Martin Luther

writings has brought me more knowledge to be

of a great value to my pastoral ministry.

Thanks to the organizers of the LWF Center in

Wittenberg. Blessings. Gloribel of El Salvador

Pastor Cletus Mumuni Alale, Evangelical

Lutheran Church of Ghana

I wish to express my profound gratitude’s first

to Almighty God, LWF and you for given me

this opportunity to participate in this seminar.

It has been a blessing to me and ELCG. I have

really enjoyed lectures by two professors and

tour to various history places within Wittenberg

other places. I pray that God will bless all those

contributed financial and spiritual for this

seminar. I also thank my colleagues for

socialization and safe journey back home.

Thanks and God blessing.

Rev. Daniel Mono, Evangelical Lutheran

Church in Tanzania, South East of Lake

Victoria Diocese

Reflecting Luther's writings while in

Wittenberg for two weeks, inspired me to

continue to be a faithful Lutheran. It is

Important for every Lutheran Pastor to reflect in

Luther's writings where they are because they

help someone understand the meaning of being

a Lutheran. Thank you for having me this

wonderful opportunity.

Rev. Gunhild Ingela Maria Winqvist Hollman,

Church of Sweden

Reading Luther in English (rather than in

Swedish or German, as I have done before) was

new to me, and most relevant for exploring

further the significance of a globally shared

Lutheran legacy. But then again, reading texts

was not half as important as actually getting

together with people from all over the world and

finding friends among them!

Pastor Etienne Momtott, Evangelical

Lutheran Church in Cameroon

It was a very genuine blessing to be part of

this 13th seminar. We have being living

and sharing Martin Luther's thinking in

different ways: social, economy, political,

theology and spiritual. This is very

challenging for us as pastor and for our

churches today where ever we are. Thank

you people for the fellowship and rich

experiences. Your input is welcome in any

time of my life. Pray for the lord give us

health, knowledge and skill to challenge

the world by faith to live peacefully and

faithfully. Hopefully, we will meet if it is not on earth it could be in heaven. Let stay in touch by

prayer and by mail or facebook. I'm looking forward to come to the anniversary, if it is possible.

I'm proud be Lutheran by the grace of God and servant of God. Please, you may read on behalf of

me Psalm 133. I thank you and I thank the for everything you have done, accommodation and

knowledge

Rev. Henriett Cairns-Lengyel,

Evangelical-Lutheran Church in

Hungary

These two weeks provided a

great opportunity for all of us:

- To have a better understanding

of whom we are and where do

we come from.

- To learn from each other.

- To share our different opinions,

views and experiences and

reflect on them and through all

this

- To become more responsible

children of God.

Rev. Johnson Ashok Kumar

Jesudoss, Arcot Lutheran Church,

India

Wittenberg, place of sense and reason

where Brother Luther lived and this is

what I felt while visiting here. Luther

made sense not only in Christian Life,

but in the life of humanity. Yes, it was

proved in his pen when he inked on

Education, Economy, Warfare,

Government, Parenthood and

Citizenship to witness God in the

world. Let these things help me to live

as a human being.

Pastor Joona Matias Toivanen, Estonian

Evangelical Lutheran Church

I must admit that I didn't know what to

expect when I arrived in Wittenberg to

attend this seminar. It was difficult to

imagine that Luther’s writings would have

inspiring content for the variety of social

situations for Lutherans from different

cultures across the world. However this

international seminar in Wittenberg has

been a rewarding experience and I have

learnt much. It was wonderful to meet

Lutheran pastors from all over the world

and really see and understand that Triune

God is working through all of us in his

church everywhere. Soli Deo Gloria!

Rev. Joseph Bernandus Emirit,

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia

The seminar has given an insight into

sacred scriptures to understand divine

revelations which in turn paves way to

strengthen the relationship with God.

Thanks!

Pastor Kathleen Jean Baker, Lower Susquehanna

Synod, ELCA, Harrisburg, PA, USA

Thank you to the Lutheran World Federation for

providing this 13th International Seminar in

Wittenberg. The finest professors of theology

combined with a diverse gathering of students from

around the world, brought together by a

compassionate, dedicated and efficient staff, in

historic Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a living

testament to God's work in the world. From the

people of Biblical times through the reformation

through today and into tomorrow, we are an integral

part of God's journey with God's people.

Wittenberg, place of sense and reason where Brother Luther lived and this is what I felt while

visiting here. Luther made sense not only in Christian Life, but in the life of humanity. Yes, it

was proved in his pen when he inked on Education, Economy, Warfare, Government, Parenthood

and Citizenship to witness God in the world. Let these things help me to live as a human being.

.

Pastor Luis Jao, Evangelical Lutheran

Church in Mozambique

I am happy to be here, in 13th International

Seminar. For me, all the topics were

important, because I have opportunity to

know other Christians and theologians.

The freedom and the bondage of the Spirit.

For faith, a Christian is a perfectly free Lord

of all, subject to none. and for love, a

Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all,

subject to all. =LOVE ONE ANATHER=

Liberated by Gods grace, a communion in

Christ, living and working together and in

reconciled world.

Rev. Reshma Paul Wellington Katam,

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, India

Seminar: A time machine which takes you to

the time of reformation. An excellent journey

all through met Luther saw Melanchthon and

others. Great experience. Thanks.

Pastor Isaac Sissou, Church of the Lutheran

Brethren of Cameroon

Thank you very much to God to giving me the

opportunity to take part of the 13th

International Seminar for the year 2016 in

Wittenberg.

For me the seminar was well appreciated and I

hope with all my wishes, the perennial

repetition of this experience.

Yes, we have learned about Luther’s ideas of

his time, for the next seminars, I think it is

better also, that the participants learn more

about the actuality of Luther: what his

vocation could teach the Christians in

particular and the society in general to facing

the secular evolution today.

God bless all those who providing the possibilities for the good organization of the seminar.

Pastor Sören Wogensen, Evangelical

Lutheran Church in Denmark, Ribe Stift

Wonderful days in Wittenberg with time for

reflection in historical surroundings.

Lutheran Christianity is a living

Christianity, and it is being reflected in the

light of contemporary society while

respecting the historical dimension.

Rev. Steven Lawrence, LWF/DMD/Asia Desk/Asia

Regional Office, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It was interesting to go back in time to interact with

Luther's writings and to compare what happened

then during the Reformation in the 16th century with

contemporary issues of the present day society of the

21st century

Rev. Thomas Samuel Drobena, Slovak

Zion Synod, ELCA, Connecticut, USA

The international seminars provide an

unequaled opportunity to see the

Reformation in action through people from

all over the world-- not as a historical

footnote from the Wittenberg of 500 years

ago, but as the lively work of the Holy

Spirit that still challenges and transforms

His Church all over the world and brings us

together in ever-renewed thirst for the

Gospel.

Pastor Tonya Lynn Eza, Montana Synod, ELCA,

Wyoming, USA

The last time I was in Wittenberg was in 1995, which

is 21 years ago now, and I thought I knew what this

town was about. But I was wrong: I have learned so

much from attending the LWF Luther Seminar. What

a thrill to wrestle with Luther’s theology in the town

which became his almost 500 years after he nailed

the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church! And

how wonderful to meet Christian brothers and sisters

from around the world and hear their perspectives on

Martin Luther and the Lutheran faith! Thank you to

LWF for this wonderful opportunity.

Pastor Jean Niaina Valisoa Augustin

Randrianirina, Malagasy Lutheran Church

I am very pleased to be here in Wittenberg. It

is wonderful and exciting study on Luther s

theology and his story. Well organized and

equipped but one question raises what is the

main criteria to be teacher of Seminar (It does

not mean that I am not satisfied on the teacher,

no by mean. They are very strong and able

men). Thank you millions, God may bless you

and your staff.

Bishop Sithembiso Nelson Ntsikelelo Ngqakayi, Moravian

Church in South Africa

1. It was a wonderful and unique opportunity for me to interact, in

person, with fellow Christian leaders from sixteen different

countries of the Lutheran World.

2. The seminar was well organized and, as a result it, was very

educational especially the lectures on Luther's writings as

facilitated by the two Professors, no doubt about that.

3. Lastly, I would like to reflect on travel arrangements. While

financial considerations will always be a factor in this regard,

however I feel direct flights to Germany for countries that have

such flights like my own country are preferred. Not only are

participants spared extra fatigue but unfortunate incidents like my

lost luggage are prevented.