Process Leading to "Called to Common Mission"

At the 1997 Churchwide Assembly, the Concordat of Agreement fell a half-dozen votes short of passage. That proposal would have created a relationship of full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Episcopal Church. Instead the assembly adopted the following actions related to relations with The Episcopal Church:

Resolution One (CA97.5.23):

WHEREAS, while a solid majority (66.1 percent) voted for the adoption of the Concordat of Agreement, that was not sufficient for the required two-thirds majority, and
WHEREAS, despite the sadness among us and within the church at large, our church remains committed to the ultimate goal of full communion with The Episcopal Church and other churches, and
WHEREAS, we recognize our need as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to understand our own doctrine, creeds, and polity and that of The Episcopal Church; therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Churchwide Assembly, hereby,
Request that the bishop, Church Council, Department for Ecumenical Affairs, and Conference of Bishops create opportunities for dialogue and teaching within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concerning the possible avenues for full communion with The Episcopal Church;
Request that educational opportunities be created in consultation with The Episcopal Church for members of the faculties of ELCA colleges and seminaries, the Conference of Bishops, clergy, and laity designed to communicate the history, theology, and ecclesiology of both The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and that those materials will be made available to all ELCA congregations and rostered persons during the two-year period before the next Churchwide Assembly;
Call for discussion in the 1997-1999 biennium within our church of the process toward full communion and the implications of full communion with The Episcopal Church; and
Aspire to ratification of an agreement for full communion with The Episcopal Church at the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.

Resolution Two (CA97.5.24):

RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seek conversations with The Episcopal Church, building on the degree of consensus achieved at this assembly and addressing concerns that 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; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the 1982 agreement for "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" continue to guide joint ministry efforts in worship, education, and mission; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the 1997 Churchwide Assembly direct the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to communicate this request to the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Following the Churchwide Assembly, Presiding Bishop Anderson prepared a set of options describing possible ways to continue the conversation on full communion with The Episcopal Church. He shared these options with the Conference of Bishops at its October 1997 meeting and the Church Council at its November 1997 meeting. Having received the advice of the Conference of Bishops, the Church Council voted in November 1997 (CC97.11.76):

To request that the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America work with the counterpart in The Episcopal Church in developing a revised and rewritten Concordat of Agreement, using clear, down-to- earth language and including the rationale for its conclusions and recommendations; and

To authorize the presiding bishop, in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Church Council, to appoint a small drafting team to be informed by a panel of advisors in that endeavor, with the understanding that an effort will be made in the composition of the team and panel to reflect the diversity of opinion on this matter within this church.

The presiding bishop, in accord with that resolution, appointed the following Lutheran members of the drafting team: the Rev. Dr. Martin E. Marty, chair (Chicago, Ill.); the Rev. Dr. Todd W. Nichol (St. Paul, Minn.); and Dr. Michael J. Root (Columbus, Ohio). The Episcopal Church likewise appointed three members to the drafting team.

The following persons were appointed to serve on the Lutheran advisory panel: Ms. Terry L. Bowes (Longmont, Colo.); Ms. Katharin A. Kelker (Billings, Mont.); Pr. Joan A. Mau (Washington Island, Wis.); Pr. Nelson T. Strobert (Gettysburg, Pa.); Bp. Peter Rogness (Milwaukee, Wis.); Ms. Marybeth A. Peterson (Omaha, Neb.); Pr. Thomas A. Prinz (Alexandra, Va.); Gov. Albert Quie (Minnetonka, Minn.); Dr. Nelvin Vos (Maxatawny, Pa.); and Bp. Ronald B. Warren (Atlanta, Ga.).

Prior to the Church Council's April 1998 meeting, the drafting team met on December 18-19, 1997, January 14-15, 1998, February 17-18, 1998, March 23-24, 1998, and April 6-8, 1998; the advisory panel met with the drafting team on December 18, 1997, and April 6, 1998.

In April 1998, the text of the revised document, "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement," was provided to the Church Council as information. Essays by the drafting team also were presented as part of the Church Council's in-depth study and discussion of the proposal. The council took the following actions at its April 1998 meeting (CC98.04.27):

To express appreciation to the advisory panel and to the drafting team that prepared the document, "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement," in response to action taken by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly and by the Church Council in November 1997;

To call on members and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to review this proposal for full communion with The Episcopal Church within the framework of the statement, "Ecumenism: The Vision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," as adopted by the 1991 Churchwide Assembly;

To ask members and congregations to review this draft in light of the following questions, which were developed by the Conference of Bishops:
(1) How will this proposal for full communion serve the mission, common witness, and service of the Church?
(2) Does the revised proposal clearly set the ministry of bishops in the wider context of the ministry of all the baptized?
(3) Does the revised proposal demonstrate a Lutheran understanding of the one office of the ministry of Word and Sacrament?
(4) Does the revised proposal effectively and adequately present a Lutheran understanding of the historic episcopate for the North American context?
(5) What other areas of concern need to be addressed?

To encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to strengthen and renew efforts to listen carefully and respectfully to each other as they review this draft;

To call on members and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to take advantage of the opportunities for dialogue and study of available resources for greater understanding of the history, theology, and ecclesiology of this church and The Episcopal Church and to deepen and intensify their conversations on full communion with our sisters and brothers in The Episcopal Church; and

To invite and encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to respond to this draft, thereby participating in the ongoing development of a revised proposal for full communion, which will be available for review in November 1998, prior to consideration by the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.

Given the action of encouragement for members and congregations to study and respond to the draft, the council also adopted the following resolution in April 1998 (CC98.04.41):

To authorize the advisory panel to review responses to the document, "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement," and to advise the drafting team based on that review.

Responses from synodical assemblies, seminary faculties, and numerous individuals and congregations were gathered by staff of the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations and distributed to the members of the advisory panel and drafting team.

The advisory panel met on October 13, 1998, with members of the drafting team, to analyze the responses and to provide advice to the drafting team. The drafting team met October 14-15, 1998, in order to prepare a second draft, with substantial revisions, of "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement."

To facilitate widespread study, discussion, and understanding among members and throughout the congregations and synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including the 1999 synodical assemblies, the Church Council of the ELCA acted on November 15, 1998, to convey the revised proposal, "Called to Common Mission," to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly. The Churchwide Assembly is scheduled August 16-22 in Denver. The council voted
(CC98.11.55):

To transmit the following resolution to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for action:
RESOLVED, that this Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America accepts "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" as set forth below as the basis for a relationship of full communion to be established between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requests that Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convey this action to Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold of The Episcopal Church.
The Church Council also adopted a resolution related to the process for transmittal and discussion of the revised document, "Called to Common Mission."

(CC98.11.70):

To adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the action by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to transmit "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America responds to the mandate of the 1997 Churchwide Assembly "to bring to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly a revised proposal for full communion" (CA97.5.24) with The Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Church Council reflect a diversity of views on particulars of "Called to Common Mission," we nonetheless reaffirm our commitment to the action of the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that "our church remains committed to the ultimate goal of full communion with The Episcopal Church and other churches" (CA97.5.23); and
WHEREAS, the text of "Called to Common Mission" transmitted to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly reflects significant changes that respond to criticisms and suggestions related to the three-fold ministry of Word and Sacrament and the concept of "bishop for life;" and WHEREAS, changes to the constitution and bylaws of this church and to the approved Rite for the Installation of a Bishop will be provided at the time of the publication of "Called to Common Mission"; and
WHEREAS, while "Called to Common Mission" may not be a document acceptable to the entire membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it nevertheless provides a basis for articulating a vision of a shared common mission with The Episcopal Church; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America offers thanks to the members of the drafting team and the members of the advisory panel, as well as to all who provided written responses with comments and suggestions, and to those who signed petitions; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Church Council seeks to promote further discussion, continued education, and prayer related to the proposal to establish full communion with The Episcopal Church; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Church Council urges that this process of discussion, continued education, and prayer leading to and following the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly be conducted with honesty, mutual respect, and pastoral care for all persons in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church.