Fifteen More Lutheran Bishops Support 'Called to Common Mission'

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fifteen synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have added their support for "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), a Lutheran proposal for a relationship of "full communion" with The Episcopal Church. The bishops serve synods from Michigan and Nebraska to Texas and the Caribbean.
Fifteen bishops in the northeast and mid-Atlantic United States issued similar statements of support earlier in the year. Bishops head each of the ELCA's 65 synods.
"As bishops of the church we urge the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to adopt 'Called to Common Mission' as the vehicle for establishing a relationship of full communion," said a statement signed by Bishops Gary L. Hansen (North/West Lower Michigan Synod), Marcus J. Miller (Northeastern Ohio Synod), Robert A. Rimbo (Southeast Michigan Synod) and James R. Stuck (Indiana-Kentucky Synod).
"We unanimously pledge our support to 'Called to Common Mission,'" said Bishops James E. Bennett (Southwestern Texas Synod), Paul J. Blom (Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod), Mark B. Herbener (Northern Texas- Northern Louisiana Synod), Richard N. Jessen (Nebraska Synod), Charles H. Maahs (Central States Synod) and Floyd M. Schoenhals (Arkansas- Oklahoma Synod). "We commit ourselves to work and advocate for its adoption."
"Having studied 'Called to Common Mission' in depth, we wish to express our affirmation of and enthusiasm for the ecumenical advances to 'full communion' with the Episcopal Church U.S.A. that CCM so carefully proposes," wrote Bishops Richard F. Bansemer (Virginia Synod), David A. Donges (South Carolina Synod), Francisco L. Sosa (Caribbean Synod), William B. Trexler (Florida-Bahamas Synod) and Ronald B. Warren (Southeastern Synod) in a second statement. The ELCA's Southeastern Synod includes congregations in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The five bishops recalled a statement affirmed by the ELCA Conference of Bishops in March that outlined understandings about and expectations of CCM. "We wish to express and record our vigorous support for 'Called to Common Mission,'" Bishops Bansemer, Donges, Sosa, Trexler and Warren added.
Full communion is a common confessing of the Christian faith; a mutual recognition of Baptism and a sharing of the Lord's Supper, allowing for joint worship and an exchangeability of members; a mutual recognition and availability of ordained ministers to the service of all members of churches in full communion, subject only but always to the disciplinary regulations of the other churches; a common commitment to evangelism, witness and service; a means of common decision making on critical common issues of faith and life; and a mutual lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches.
A round of Lutheran-Episcopal dialogues that began in 1983 developed a proposal for full communion between the two churches, "The Concordat of Agreement," and issued it in 1991.
A convention of the Episcopal Church approved the Concordat in 1997. The proposal failed to win a two-thirds majority of the ELCA assembly that year by six votes. The assembly asked that the Concordat be revised, taking its debate into account and clarifying the technical language of the dialogue. CCM was issued in November 1998 as that revision.
"'Called to Common Mission' builds on the consensus of the 1997 assembly and ably addresses the concerns that emerged during consideration of the 'Concordat of Agreement,'" said Bishops Hansen, Miller, Rimbo and Stuck. They called CCM "an understanding and accessible document."
"Most importantly 'Called to Common Mission' lays the foundation for greater collaboration in mission ... for the purpose of proclaiming more effectively the gospel of Jesus Christ," the four bishops added.
Three bishops, in the same regions as the fifteen who signed statements supporting CCM recently, did not sign the statements: Bishops Leonard H. Bolick (North Carolina Synod), Callon W. Holloway Jr. (Southern Ohio Synod) and Marcus C. Lohrmann (Northwestern Ohio Synod).
When the Conference of Bishops outlined its understandings and expectations of CCM in March, it decided not to affirm or endorse the proposal, said Bolick. He said he did not sign a statement of support for CCM based on the conference's action.
Holloway said he has strong thoughts about CCM but wanted to operate in the spirit of the Conference of Bishops' actions. He said he has shared his thoughts with pastors and lay leaders of his synod.
"Bishops should be working very hard right now to make sure we can work together as a church whether 'Called to Common Mission' passes or fails," said Holloway. "The best way to do that is to help the healing process and not to charge the political process."
Lohrmann said he is not necessarily against CCM but felt he needed more time for reflection before deciding how he will vote. He said he still has some unanswered questions to consider. "Will the historic episcopate work to enhance the ministry of the ELCA?" he asked.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly will vote on the proposal for full communion with the Episcopal Church when it meets Aug. 16-22 in Denver.

EDITORS: The full text of "Called to Common Mission" is located at
http://www.elca.org/ea/proposal/text.html

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html