Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations home > Full Communion Relationships > The Episcopal Church

"Called to Common Mission" - A relationship of full communion with The Episcopal Church
The 1999 Churchwide Assembly in Denver voted for full communion between the ELCA and The Episcopal Church. "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" is the document that describes this full communion relationship. A Spanish version, Llamados a Una Misión Común, is also available.

The Episcopal Church took its final action on this relationship at its General Convention in Denver on July 8, 2000. Please visit The Episcopal Church's Web site to learn more about actions taken by their General Convention July 4-15, 2000. The ELCA also has issued several News Releases regarding actions of the General Convention.

Information about the celebration of the full communion agreement between the ELCA and The Episcopal Church is also available.

Lutheran - Episcopal Coordinating Committee
The Lutheran - Episcopal Coordinating Committee (referred to in "Called to Common Mission" as a "Joint Committee") began meeting following the full communion celebration January 2001. Their charter, meeting minutes, and news releases are posted as they become available.

Frequently Asked Questions About "Called to Common Mission"
The public media often do not understand that this relationship of full communion is not a merger. Confusion often is a result of errors in reporting. The relationship, however, is not a corporate merger, and each church body will continue to govern its own internal affairs. Read more...

Click here to read an article by Bp. C. Christopher Epting of the Episcopal Church (USA) on the "mission" of Called to Common Mission. The article, titled Common Mission Moves Forward, was published in The Living Church, a national weekly magazine serving Episcopalians, in June of 2003.

Ordination in 'Unusual Circumstances'
The ELCA Church Council began a discussion in July 2000 of a possible bylaw that might allow a candidate to be ordained by a Lutheran pastor other than a bishop in unusual circumstances. The proposed bylaw and policy that was adopted at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2001 are available for downloading.

• Bylaw Related to Ordination in 'Unusual Circumstances'
• Policy Regarding Ordination in 'Unusual Circumstances'

Adobe Acrobat Reader needed to view and print the PDF files.
Download the FREE Reader now.

The Historic Episcopacy and the ELCA
Evangelical, Historic Succession and Oversight in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Light of "Called to Common Mission, a document drafted by the Rev. Drs. Sarah Henrich, Arland Hultgren, and Merlyn Satrom and revised after consultation with several others, explores the meaning and implications of the historic episcopacy for the life and ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This document is commended for study in the ELCA by a list of signatories attached at the end. Persons wishing to add their name to this list should contact Pastor Satrom via e-mail.

The historic episcopacy has been a subject widely discussed.  Another document, titled "Historic Episcopacy in the ELCA," was developed in the "Ecumenical Lutheranism" meeting on LutherLink, an Internet meeting. This document was crafted by persons who have supported and opposed the adoption of "Called to Common Mission." This statement, which has no official status in the ELCA at present, is posted here simply as information.

© Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us | ELCA Home |