Lutherans Approve "Full Communion" with Reformed Churches

PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America today approved a proposal declaring "full communion" with three churches of the Reformed tradition -- the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ.
Voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted 839-193 (81.3 percent - 18.7 percent) on the "Formula of Agreement."
A few minutes later a similar measure declaring full fellowship with The Episcopal Church fell six votes short of approval.
The declaration of full communion is not a plan to merge, but it commits the churches to sharing in their mission work locally and internationally and to develop procedures whereby clergy in one denomination may pastor a church in another denomination.
The proposals grew out of several decades of theological conversation.
Following the vote, a statement from the Rev. Daniel Martensen, director of the ELCA's department of ecumenical affiars, said, "The Christian community in the United States is less fragmented than it was just a few months ago." Martensen said the decisions set the stage for "exciting ecumenical advances to be made as we move into the next millennium."
The failure of the Episcopal proposal dampened the spirits of the representatives of the Reformed Church who nonetheless enthusiastically welcomed the other decision.
"It is a moment of mixed feelings, a difficult moment for us," said the Rev. John Thomas, ecumenical officer of the United Church of Christ. "Many of our colleagues are feeling pain and sorrow."
"We are committed to the whole of the ecumenical movement, not just a piece of it," Thomas said. "Whenever a church finds itself unable to move forward, we have a deep sense of disappointment."
Though his church came under sharp criticism from some speakers at the assembly, Thomas expressed "appreciation of the way the issue was debated and discussed."
"Lutherans have helped us all be aware of the theological ground on which we stand and the need to tend that ground," Thomas said. "Full communion allows us to call each other to tend that ground, to help and to admonish one another."
The Rev. Douglas Fromm of the Reformed Church in America expressed satisfaction at the declaration of fellowship and recalled that he had hoped such an action would have been taken years ago. Such action was indeed taken by the American Lutheran Church -- one of the three bodies that merged in 1987 to form the ELCA. Because the other partners to the ELCA merger had not taken that action, the decision was set aside at the time of the merger.
A statement, prepared by the heads of the four denominations, and released when the vote total was announced said the decision marked a "decisive milestone in our journey towards unity and signals the beginning of a new chapter in the history of these four churches of the 16th century Reformation."
Noting that some in the churches opposed the decision, the statement said "we know that some in our churches will not be able to receive this action with enthusiasm. Their continued questions and reservations are to be heard and respected."
A joint commission of the denominations will now begin to formulate ways to implement the decision. The individual presbyteries -- regional units -- of the Presbyterian Church (USA) must also ratify the decision of their general convention.

For information contact:

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