ELCA Debates What Form Fellowship Should Take

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Should Lutherans be in close fellowship with Episcopalians and Christians from Reformed and Presbyterian Churches?  If so, what form should that fellowship take?  And should it be with one, both or -- if not both -- neither?  Those questions will be answered tomorrow, but arose during a one-hour debate at the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America here today.
     The debate was focussed on the proposal to declare "full communion" with three Reformed church denominations, but the implications of that decision for relations with the Episcopal Church -- another recommendation facing the assembly -- crept into the discussion.
     If endorsed, the declarations of "full communion" would mean that the churches develop ways to share mission and other work and processes to provide for the interchangeability of clergy.  The proposals come after several decades of theological dialogues and are the most specific actions ever to result from the inter-denominational talks.
     All other parties to the proposal have approved the documents by large majorities in conventions held earlier this year.  The ELCA will take its vote on Monday.
     The hour of parliamentary debate today followed an informal hour-long discussion yesterday, after two Lutheran theologians had presented arguments for and against the "Formula of Agreement" establishing full communion with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ.
     "There is a risk involved in affirming both proposals simultaneously," said Richard Ylvisaker of Decorah, Iowa, "but it would be nearly unthinkable to approve one, but not the other."
     Earlier discussion on the proposal revealed sharp concern as to whether or not the UCC has a strong enough doctrinal base to satisfy Lutheran concern for theological precision.  But today's debate dealt largely with the implications of approving or denying the proposal.
     The Rev. Howard Mettee, Reformation Lutheran Church, Greenville, Tenn., said "we have been praying for unity for 40 years and now God seems to have responded to our prayers."
     Responding to the concern expressed by some that the Formula of Agreement was too vaguely worded, the Rev. Ross Goodman, Good Shepard Lutheran Church, North Quincy, Mass.,  said "we will only fully understand later what this step means."  Goodman said he lamented the "climate of fear and doubt and suspicion" expressed in some of the earlier debate.  "If we reject either one (of the proposals)," he said, "I will return to Boston embarrassed and ashamed."
     But Charles Gross of Newport Beach, Calif., criticized the Reformed church as a "poor piece of man-made legislation" that tended to separate clergy and laity.
     As the convention sessions opened, ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson announced his enthusiasm for the proposals, and as the debate began the Rev. Mark Graham, St. John Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Va., said he believed it was the Holy Spirit that "reminded me to trust, trust our presiding bishop, trust Christians outside the Lutheran confessions, trust Jesus Christ."
     One voting member had announced that he would present an "alternative" proposal, should the ecumenical measures fail; but speakers pointed out that any "alternative" would have no standing with the other partners in the dialogues.  The Rev. Guy S.  Edmiston, bishop of the ELCA's Lower Susquehanna Synod, and a co-chair of the Lutheran-Reformed coordinating committee which prepared the Formula said "any alternative would have no standing at all ecumenically."
     The procedure agreed to by the denominations stipulated that all had to approve exactly the same documents for the action to be properly endorsed.
     The Rev. Alvin Barry, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the St. Louis-based denomination that is not in fellowship with the ELCA, nor involved in wide-ranging ecumenical discussions, brought greetings to the assembly and said he was convinced that adopting the proposals would drive the ELCA and the LC-MS further apart.
     But the Rev. George P. Mocko, bishop of the Delaware-Maryland synod, recalled that he had tried to bring the LC-MS into closer Lutheran and ecumenical relations.  He said, "they would talk talk talk talk talk, and then walk away."
     Should the ELCA turn down the ecumenical initiatives, Mocko said, "I fear we will be tarred with that same brush."

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html