Dear Editor,
Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation is an event that seems locked in a proverbial time capsule even though the very existence of the tens of thousands of Christian denominations today tell the silent tale of one man’s revolution against the powers of the day. This past week, Pope Francis left his home to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Sweden, the first Pontiff to ever do so.
Even criticized by many Roman Catholics for the move, the trip detailed meetings with senior Lutheran leaders and even historic discussions, the most we have had in history between Rome and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
With 500 years of the Reformation, I do believe the Lutheran Church someday will return to the Roman fold. Pope Francis has initiated that process, although the process might take a long time.
But the healing has begun to restore cordial relations between the two churches. Pope Francis himself has expressed a desire for that unity which once existed.
In Guyana, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana (ELCG) planned a grand celebration on Sunday, October 30 to commemorate the anniversary. The event was held at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Lutheran Courts, New Amsterdam, Berbice. While every opportunity should have been extended to ease the tensions between the two churches and reach out in this healing process, I do not know whether an invitation was extended to the Roman Catholic leaders to attend this celebration. However, President David Granger was there as well as Region 6 Chairman, Mr David Armogan. I’m not sure how significant those choices were.
But every effort should be seized for inter-religious and inter-denominational dialogue between every religious organization, especially between the fractured relationships caused by history between the Lutherans and Roman Catholic Church. Many Catholics are amazed by the bold and dynamic move by Pope Francis in visiting Sweden and marking the 500th anniversary there of one of the great religious revolutions of mankind. A bold step forward indeed, and we too here at the local level must do our little part to foster Christian unity.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Suseran
