Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Addresses Assembly

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- The ecumenical proposals being considered by this year's Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America "are yet another unfortunate example" of an increasing theological division between the ELCA and The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, the Missouri Synod's president told assembly members today.
     But the Rev. A.L. Barry, president of the 2.6 million-member Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, also said that regardless of what action the ELCA may take on the proposals, the LCMS will continue its joint humanitarian and other work with the ELCA and is "committed to working with you to address our various theological differences, for we do desire closer theological ties with you."
     Assembly members rose to their feet for a sustained ovation after Barry's remarks when ELCA Bishop H. George Anderson said that he, too, regrets "the separation we have experienced between our two church bodies," asked "forgiveness" for anything he may have done to add to the division, and said his vision is "that we can one day be a single, vigorous Lutheran voice in this country."
     Together, the ELCA and LCMS comprise the vast majority of Lutherans in the United States.  The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets here through Wednesday, is considering proposals for full communion with three Reformed churches and with the Episcopal Church and a joint declaration with the Roman Catholics on the doctrine of justification.
     "The Missouri Synod believes that these proposals are yet another unfortunate example of how our two churches are continuing to move farther away from one another, in terms of our theological understandings and confessional commitments," Barry said in his greetings to the assembly here this morning.  "It would be our feeling that through the adoption of these proposals, you would in reality be moving away from the scriptural and confessional position of historic Lutheranism."
     During a news conference following his remarks to the assembly, Barry agreed that adoption of the ecumenical proposals would make it more difficult to bring the two Lutheran bodies closer together.  "Once you take a step, it's difficult to step back," Barry said.  Still, he added, both he and Anderson "would like to see our two churches on converging, rather than diverging, courses.  I welcome his comments."
     Unlike the ELCA, the Missouri Synod believes that agreement on what Scripture teaches is necessary before there can be full communion between two church bodies.
     Barry made two other points in his greetings that he said should be emphasized   that through the preaching of the Gospel and administration of the sacraments, the members of both church bodies are greatly blessed with God's forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, and that all Lutherans need to be bold in sharing this blessing with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
     "Lay people have contacts and opportunity that we pastors do not have," Barry said at his news conference.  He said they should just tell those around them that what Christ "has done for me, he's  done for you."
     Barry was asked if  approval of the ecumenical proposals, which have been actively debated here, could lead some members of the ELCA to seek membership in the LCMS.  He replied that the Missouri Synod would talk with anyone, but that the LCMS "should not go wooing people out of the ELCA" and that  any disaffected ELCA members also would be asked to speak to their bishops about any concerns.  "We would not want to use this issue as flypaper to attract those who are dissatisfied," Barry said.

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