A Lutheran pastor described as being “instrumental in helping local churches invest their resources to make a better planet” was among the 157 people who died when an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed soon after take-off from Addis Ababa on 10th March.
Austrian Rev Norman Tendis, a World Council of Churches consultant, was on his way to the UN Environment Assembly and had been involved with colleagues in developing a roadmap for “Congregations, Communities and Churches for an Economy of Life and Ecological Justice”. He was among numerous environmental advocates and UN staff members killed in the crash.
PICTURE: Ivars Kupcis/WCC
In a statement, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, expressed his “deepest condolences” with regard to all those killed in the crash and his “particular anguish upon the loss of our own Rev Norman Tendis, who was passionately carving out a path for economic and environmental justice”.
Tveit told a gathering at the Ecumenical Chapel in Geneva on 11th March that the roadmap Tendis had been developing “had been his compassion and vision for years”, describing the pastor as a “light for those supporting and practicing small-scale, life-giving agriculture”.
“Norman promoted climate-friendly mobility, ethical investments and other practices which led to sustainable living for all”.
Tveit said he hoped the ministry of the churches across the world could “be instrumental in comforting the families and all those who mourn the sudden death of this group of people”.
Professor Isabel Apawo Phiri, WCC deputy general secretary, added that Tendis “walked his talk”.
“He was deeply rooted and committed to his congregation, and was committed to share his experiences and vision with the wider ecumenical family. His focus and enthusiasm was how each local church can contribute to the economic and ecological justice, in the marketplaces, in the communities, among the nations, and with the earth.”
