Nigerian archbishop becomes Lutheran world president
Archbishop Musa Panti Filibus was elected president of the Lutheran World Federation on May 13 at its assembly in Windhoek, Namibia.
Filibus leads the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, having previously served as director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development and as deputy general secretary.
“An important task ahead of us will be how to continue journeying together as a communion,” he said. “There is no LWF if we cannot walk together, if we cannot mutually respect one another. Whatever we envision we can do together, it all depends on how we are able to hold each other together.”
Filibus does not want any member churches to feel isolated. He encourages mutual sharing and continuing to foster trust built through years of relationships.
“We need to be reminded that the Reformation that took place 500 years ago was an opportunity for the church to discover anew the gospel message and the mission of the church at that moment,” he said. “This is an opportunity to ask as we move forward, What is God calling the church to do today?” —Lutheran World Federation
