Lutheran-Mennonite Conversations

Representatives of the Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met in Goshen, Indiana February 21-24, 2002, beginning the first in a series of dialogues between the two denominations. Included in this round of conversation were reflections upon the Protestant Reformation, the experience of each church in the North American context, and the role and authority of confessional writings. A key element in the dialogue was an examination of the persecution of Anabaptists by Lutherans and others, and the healing of those painful memories. In the course of this first round, the dialogue explored each church’s hermeneutic for interpreting Scripture, the role and authority of Church structures, and the relationship between Church and state.

From February of 2002 until March of 2004, topics included baptism, the Lord’s Supper, nonresistance and non-violence, pacifism and the Gospel of peace, anthropology and free will, and others. Throughout the dialogue, members of congregations were given opportunities to meet with and discuss these issues as the group sought to deepen levels of trust and cooperation between our two church bodies. Their continued hope is that our deepening fellowship will strengthen both faith communities for mission in the world.

This first round of conversations concluded March 21, 2004. The ELCA-MCUSA Liaison Committee submitted a summary report, Right Remembering in Anabaptist - Lutheran Relations. The report includes recommendations for further interaction between these two churches.

Based upon these recommendations, on November, 13, 2006, the ELCA Church Council adopted the Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on the Condemnation of Anabaptists , expressing "deep and abiding sorrow and regret for the persecution and suffering visited upon Anabaptists during religious disputes of the past." The future of continued conversation is also uplifted in the declaration.