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President Roger Jones

French Lutherans Elect New President

by | May 28, 2016

Officers of the synodical board are installed. (Photo: Eric Préaud).

Officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Synod of France are installed. Officers from left to right are: Andrianhery Rakotoniaina (Treasurer), Rev. Philippe Volff (Vice-President), Rev. Martin Jautzy (President), and Rev. David Maffett (Secretary). (Photo: Eric Préaud).

President Martin Jautzy. (Photo: Eric Préaud)

President Martin Jautzy. (Photo: Eric Préaud)

FRANCE – Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Synod of France (Église Évangélique Luthérienne–Synode de France – EELSF) held their synodical convention May 6-8, 2016 in Châtenay-Malabry, during which the church elected Rev. Martin Jautzy as their new President.

President Elect Jautzy serves as pastor at Paroisse de Sion in Schilldersdor, Alsace. Prior to his election as synodical President, he served as a regional president.

“President Martin Jautzy was elected president with a clear majority,” noted outgoing President Roger Jones. “Our church will greatly benefit from his pastoral qualities.”

“It was a great privilege for me to serve our Church the last four years,” President Jones continued, noting his ability to work only part-time in recent years following a serious stroke in 2014. He expressed thanks for the prayers of the international Lutheran community during his recovery. “I thank you for your support and well-wishes which were a great encouragement. With God’s blessings, I am able to continue to serve.”

Also elected during the convention was Rev. David Maffett, who will serve the ELCSF as Secretary of the Synodical Board. Rev. Philippe Volff and Andrianhery Rakotoniaina were reelected to serve as Vice-President and Treasurer of the synod respectively.

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French Lutherans hold synod, establish relations with Swiss church

by | Nov 13, 2014

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Rev. Walter Ralli  (Burgdorf, Switzerland); ELCSF Vice-President Philippe Volff; and ELCSF President Emeritus Jean Haessig.

The new French edition of Luther's Small Catechism.

The new French edition of Luther’s Small Catechism.

FRANCE – The Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France (ELCSF held its synod November 9-11 in Schillersdorf, Alsace in France.

The convention opened the morning of Sunday, November 9 with a worship service alongside the congregation in Schillersdorf. The afternoon saw the official presentation of the ELCSF’s newly revised French edition of Luther’s Small Catechism. The same day saw the French church officially establish altar and pulpit fellowship with a group of confessional Lutherans in Switzerland.

“It is a joy to be able to recognize these Swiss Lutherans as our brothers and sisters in Christ,” said ELCSF Vice President Philippe Volff. “May God bless our ministry together as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a broken world.”

Talks with the Swiss were conducted by ELCSF President Emeritus Jean Haessig. Rev. Walter Ralli (Burgdorf, Switzerland) attended the French church’s convention as a representative of the Swiss Lutherans.

Business continued Monday and Tuesday, with regular reports and a presentation on the finances of the church. Monday afternoon saw the exploration of this year’s convention theme: “Why I Am a Member of My Church.” Presenters on the topic included Rev. Jean-Louis Schaeffer, Rev. David Maffet, and Vice President Volff. Additional presentations focused on a discussion of the Church in the internet age.

The ELCSF holds its convention every two years, normally in May. This year’s convention had been postponed after President Roger Jones suffered a major stroke which left him hospitalized. The November date was eventually chosen to coincide with the release of the new catechism.

President Jones, who was elected to lead the ELCSF in 2012, recently began testing ministry related tasks to assess if he is ready to begin work again part-time. He returned to the pulpit for the first time since his stroke on October 19 and is currently leading a Bible study. He cannot yet travel and thus could not attend this year’s convention, so Vice President Philippe Volff substituted for him.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France has ten churches, eight pastors, and more than 700 members. It is a member of the International Lutheran Council.

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