PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- "Today we stand at a unique place in American religious history," the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told the ELCA Churchwide Assembly during its first business session Aug. 15. He issued the first analysis of a proposal for Lutherans to enter into "full communion" with The Episcopal Church.
Full communion would not be a merger of the two churches. It is characterized by a recognition of each other's ministries, sacraments and confessions. It would also establish an atmosphere of common decision making.
The Concordat of Agreement between the two churches describes ways to implement full communion, including methods for the Lutheran church to incorporate the historic episcopate -- a continuity of passing the Christian faith from generation to generation through church structures -- which is enjoyed by The Episcopal Church. Those methods are at the center of debate during the Lutheran assembly.
Anderson initiated that debate. "The most difficult question for me has to do with the proposal in the Concordat of Agreement that the bishops of the ELCA participate in the historic episcopate," he said. If Lutherans adopt "the laying-on of hands" for their bishops, "will we soon find ourselves replacing our traditional emphasis on the power of the Word by a new emphasis on the human transfer of authority through the historic episcopate?" Anderson asked.
Lutheran churches in Sweden and Tanzania, for example, already participate in the historic episcopate, said Anderson in response to his own question. Those churches have maintained their Lutheran identities and flourished. He said Lutherans around the world are accustomed to adopting a variety of church structures to best facilitate their ministries.
"It is certainly possible for an evangelical understanding of ministry to include the historic episcopate," Anderson said. "It is possible to have a certain church polity and to interpret it in many ways.... The path our church takes is up to us."
The General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopted the Concordat when it met here in July. The Rt. Rev. Edward W. Jones, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, brought the results of that vote to the Lutheran assembly.
The whole world could benefit from Lutheran-Episcopal dialogues that began 28 years ago, leading up to this vote, said Jones. "The Concordat has breathed new live into the ecumenical spirit of Episcopalians," he said. Christians around the world and even the unchurched are looking for a model of reconciliation.
"Do our divisions allow us the best possible witness of our Lord?" the Rev. Paul J. Blom, bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Houston, quoted the Archbishop of Canterbury George L. Carey, leader of the global Anglican communion which includes The Episcopal Church. Carey spoke with Lutheran and Episcopal bishops last fall about the proposal for full communion.
Blom likened the two churches to railroad tracks running parallel to each other, both going in the same direction. The Concordat can represent railroad ties that better define that relationship. He invited assembly voting members share stories from their home congregations that illustrate local Lutheran-Episcopal partnerships in ministry.
"We have gone about as far as we can go without addressing the issue of ministry -- cooperation on more than an ad hoc or personal basis," Anderson told reporters later. The time has come for the two churches to formally recognize the validity of each other's work.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly continues through Aug. 20 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Rules adopted during the opening business session will affect the timing of votes taken on the Concordat and a second proposal for the ELCA to enter into full communion with three Reformed churches -- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
Formal debate on the Reformed proposal will begin the morning of Aug. 17. At the end of that debate, which could continue Aug. 18, debate on the Episcopal proposal will begin. At the close of both debates the assembly will vote on the Reformed proposal and announce the results before voting on the Episcopal proposal. Both votes are expected to be completed by the afternoon of Aug. 18.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
