Congratulating Reverend Martin Junge on his election as General Secretary of influential Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Hindus hope that he would promote interfaith dialogue in the world.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, hoped that LWF under Junge would work for promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperating in common causes such as peace, ecological responsibility, social development, etc., with different religions and denominations. Dialogue brought us mutual enrichment and helped us overcome prejudices passed down to us from previous generations, Zed added.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out: “Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines. In our shared quest for the truth, we can learn from one another and thus come closer to the truth.”

LWF claims to represent about 69 million Lutherans in 79 countries and 140 member churches. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), it is now headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland). It confesses the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the only source and norm of its doctrine, life and service. Reverend Mark S. Hanson is the president.

Chilean Pastor Martin Junge, first Latin American to head LWF, will serve a seven-year term. Theologian Junge, 48, who is married and has two children, has served as the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. The LWF General Secretary conducts the business of the Federation in collaboration with the Cabinet. He was elected during a closed session meeting of the 49-member LWF Council in Chavannes-de-Bogis (Switzerland).

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

-Sampurn Media