Lutherans Rededicate Themselves to Seek "Full Communion" with Episcopalians

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- After rejecting a proposal to enter now into "full communion" with The Episcopal Church, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has rededicated the church to work toward establishing that relationship in 1999.  The assembly overwhelmingly adopted two resolutions on Tuesday, Aug. 19, outlining that resolve and the steps the ELCA should take to achieve that goal.
     Addressing representatives of the Episcopal Church who were on hand for the votes, ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson said, "You feel the urgent and heartfelt intent of this church to enter into full communion with the Episcopal Church."  He assured them that, with patience and continued cooperation, the goal of full communion would be achieved "in the Lord's time."
     "When they ask me about these days, I will tell them the world's largest roller coaster is located in Philadelphia," the Rev. Canon David Perry, ecumenical officer of the Episcopal Church, told the Lutheran assembly.  "I will tell the folks back home, 'In God's time we will all discover the good news that we are one in Christ.'"
     The ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted on Monday, Aug. 18, to reject the Concordat of Agreement, a formal proposal for full communion between the two churches.  Needing two-thirds or 690 of the votes cast for approval, it failed 684 to 351.
     The first resolution passed Tuesday said "our church remains committed to the ultimate goal of full communion with The Episcopal Church and other churches" and listed things the ELCA will do to educate itself on Lutheran and Episcopal doctrine, creeds and polity.  That resolution passed 930 to 79 -- or 92.2 percent in the affirmative.
     The second resolution built on a 1982 agreement for "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" to maintain conversations between the two churches "to bring to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly a revised proposal for full communion" with The Episcopal Church.  That resolution passed 995 to 15 -- 98.5 percent in the affirmative.
     The assembly resolved that the ELCA "seek conversations with The Episcopal Church, building on the degree of consensus achieved at this assembly and addressing concerns which emerged during consideration of the Concordat of Agreement.  The aim of these conversations is to bring to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly a revised proposal for full communion."
     The ELCA Churchwide Assembly is meeting Aug. 14-20 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
     "'Full communion' means affirming that in another church the gospel is proclaimed and the Sacraments appropriately administered," the Rev. Walter R.  Bouman, professor of systematic theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, told the assembly earlier.  "It means that we can cooperate with each other fully, do mission together," he said.  "It means that we adopt agreements by which churches can exchange ministers."
     "The Episcopal Church required that bishops who participate in the 'historic episcopate' ordain all clergy," said Bouman.  "The Episcopal Church has bishops who share in this succession.  The ELCA does not," he said.  "Lutherans don't think the historic episcopate is necessary for ordained ministry."
     "Lutherans saw that they needed to take some action which would enable the Episcopal Church to recognize the historic episcopate in the Lutheran bishops.  Episcopalians saw that they needed to take some action that would recognize Lutheran ministry now," Bouman said.
     The General Convention of the Episcopal Church adopted the Concordat overwhelmingly when it met here in July.  Among the provisions the Episcopalians approved was to immediately accept the validity of the ordinations of ELCA pastors.
     Perhaps the main objection to the proposal voiced at the assembly was that it committed the Lutheran church to incorporate the "historic episcopate" of the Episcopal Church.  Episcopal bishops trace their succession back to about the third century after Christ through the historic episcopate.  Most of the Lutherans speaking against the agreement expressed strong reservations with the wording of the Concordat and not with continued close relationships with the Episcopal Church.
     The ELCA Churchwide Assembly asked that, in the next two years, its leaders provide:
            opportunities "for dialogue and teaching within the ELCA
            concerning the possible avenues for full communion with The
            Episcopal Church;"
            educational opportunities "to communicate the history, theology
            and ecclesiology" of both churches; and
            discussion "within our church of the process toward full communion
            and the implications of full communion."

For information contact:

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