ILC remembers Lutheran leader

Dr. Wengenroth

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) remembered today Rev. Dr. Karl Wengenroth, a former representative to the International Lutheran Conference (a group that would eventually become the ILC). Dr. Wengenroth was a retired Propst (regional vice-president) of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany. He served on the executive committee of the International Lutheran Conference as Vice-Chairman from 1981-1983 and as Europe Representative from 1984-1986. Dr. Wengenroth was also the second Chairman of the European Lutheran Conference (ELC), serving from 1986-1996. He passed away September 11.

“A dear servant has departed and entered God’s eternal kingdom,” said President Leif G. Jensen of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark, addressing the ILC. He called for a moment of reflection on Dr. Wengenroth’s service to the Church: “He stressed that we as servants in God’s kingdom live under the cross,” President Jensen said, “and we preach the cross of Christ for the sake of our churches and people in this world.”

Dr. Wengenroth was involved with the International Lutheran Conference over a number of years, having attended the 1978 conference in Wabag, Papua New Guinea, the 1981 conference in St. Louis, Missouri, and the 1984 conference in Obot Idim, Nigeria. In addition to twice serving on the executive, Dr. Wengenroth presented a major paper at the 1978 conference, and was keynote speaker for both the 1981 and 1984 conferences. He attended the 1987 conference in Berlin as an observer.

In an email to European Lutheran Conference church bodies, ELC President Jean Thiébaut Haessig also remembered Dr. Wengenroth. “The Lord be thanked for the services Karl could render to the Church,” he wrote, “and above all, for the comfort of the resurrection to life eternal.”

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