For the past few years Asian Lutherans gathered together in order to tackle the question on our identity as Asian Lutherans. Questions such as: how do we understand ourselves as a church? How do we see ourselves as Lutherans in a changing world? The world is getting hostile to Christians, how do we respond to this? These questions were addressed at the conference through paper presentations. The conference is organized and sponsored every year by the Lutheran World Federation represented and facilitated by the Rev. Dr. William Chang, Area Secretary for Asia, Department for Mission and Development.
This year’s conference was hosted by the Lutheran Church of the Philippines and was held at Orchid Garden Suites Hotel, Malate, Manila from November 17-20, 2015. Twenty one delegates from other Asian countries came.They were from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Taiwan, India, Myanmar, Japan, Cambodia, and Singapore. While the LCP was represented by the Rev. Wilando Roa and Rev. Daniel Pondevida who both delivered paper on the Asian Lutheran identity in the Philippine context. Also, Mr. Reynold Bermuel Jr, President, MDD Youth Organization, who represented the youth rendered his paper on the identity of the Lutheran youth in the Philippines. Mrs. Thelma Quilala delivered her paper on the identity of the Filipino Lutheran woman. Mrs. Nerissa Culas and Mrs. Arlene Reyes also attended representing the women sector of LCP.
Dr. Hans Peter Grosshans, Professor at University of Muenter in Germany delivered the keynote address entitled Ecclesiology and Missions. He stressed that German people are already very secular and materialistic so that the Church should breath in — meaning it should build itself up. And that the church should also breath out –, meaning it has to turn the world around and share the good news. If the church does not breath out it could mean that it is not convinced of its own faith or there is lack of conviction.
Issues on post-modernism and climate change were discussed including the alarming increase of the Muslim population. A need to unite and form a communion of churches was tabled for further study and consideration.
