Photo: WCC/Marcelo Schneider

The Conference of European Churches has expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of Rev. Norman Tendis, Consultant for Economy of Life at the World Council of Churches. Rev. Tendis, a Lutheran pastor from Austria was among the 152 passengers, who perished in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash.

“It is with deep sorrow we received the news of the tragic death of Norman Tendis. We remember Norman as a passionate member of the Church, local community and the broad ecumenical family,” reads the letter addressed to Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria by CEC and the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN).

Rev. Tendis is remembered “as a valued colleague who with his extensive knowledge, experience and inexhaustible enthusiasm made a significant contribution to the work of CEC and ECEN.”

“He was a wonderful person, full of light,” said Prof. Alexander Bokotey, member of ECEN. “More than 10 years he helped us in addressing ecological and theological questions in defence of climate, alternative energy and sustainable development,” he added.

The WCC is honouring the legacy of Rev. Tendis by launching resource on economic and ecological justice, titled “Roadmap for Congregations, Communities and Churches for an Economy of Life and Ecological Justice”.