ELCA Assembly Opens Debate on Full Communion with Episcopal

DENVER (ELCA)-- Two Lutheran pastors squared off here on whether the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) should declare full communion with The Episcopal Church and allow for such measures of close cooperation as the exchange of clergy between the two churches.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 here at the Colorado Convention Center. There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century."
For the Rev. Norman W. Wahl, Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn., the agreement would seriously divide the Lutheran denomination and is not necessary for Lutherans and Episcopalians to cooperate. Among other things, Wahl contends that the agreement elevates the office of the bishop contrary to the "genius of the Reformation, which is the priesthood of all believers."
While in favor of entering into full communion with the Episcopal Church, Wahl said the current Lutheran proposal, "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), is "simply the wrong way to do the right thing." He added, "We do not need to adopt the polities or policies of another church to claim our oneness in Christ."
On the other side of the question, the Rev. Nancy M. Curtis, St. James Lutheran Church, New Haven, Ind., said the episcopate is a "sign that is thoroughly Lutheran, a part of our heritage long before the Reformation."
Lutherans and Episcopalians share "apostolic succession," an ongoing faithful proclamation of Christ. Episcopalians bring to the relationship the "historic episcopate," a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to the earliest days of the Christian church.
Lutheran bishops now are able to delegate the authority for ordaining new pastors to other Lutheran pastors. Curtis said bishops would lose that advantage. Pastors would still be able to ordain new Lutheran pastors, but a bishop would be part of the ceremony.
The presentations from the two pastors followed an introduction by the Rev. Martin E. Marty, an ELCA pastor and church historian who co-chaired the committee that drafted CCM after a similar proposal to establish full communion failed by six votes at the ELCA's 1997 Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia.
"Through your vote, you can help this church make history," Marty said. He said the drafting committee had considered the discussion and objections presented in 1997 carefully . The revised proposal, he said, displays a "Lutheran understanding of the one ministry of the church." He urged the assembly's voting members to "help this church become ever more aware of our bond with Christians of the past and more connected with Christians today."
The historic episcopate has become the focal point of the discussion. Some Lutheran churches around the world use this form of governance, but the concept has not been a part of the structure of American Lutheranism.
The historic episcopate is a key element in the structure of world wide Anglicanism to which the Episcopal Church belongs, and -- in their view -- something which is needed for full communion.
Wahl is among those who contend that CCM makes the historic episcopate an "essential" element of church structure. Proponents of the measure say the episcopate, while not "essential," is a "gift" to Lutheranism from their Anglican counterparts.
Wahl argued that the "gift," rather than bringing unity, will bring more dissension among Lutherans. Lutherans have never taught that they need to be "governed" by bishops who are "ordained a certain way," he said.
Curtis said the 13 churches in New Haven, Ind., "know what it means to live without visible unity," as none of the churches are officially in fellowship with each other. She said her congregation studied the proposed agreement and found that "there is but one side, that we do desire visible unity with our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church."
Marty said CCM's drafting committee had considered alternatives to the present proposal, but found that none of them would have been acceptable to the Episcopalians, who may vote on this agreement next year. He agreed that some parts of the proposal might be difficult for some Lutherans, but he urged adoption, saying that "if some passages are uncomfortable to some, they may become more acceptable in time.
"I hope that any of you who waver in support will be open to change," Marty said. He contended that, in a "warring world" where Christians often take part in armed conflict against each other, "we baptized Christians, through acts like this, could produce a fresh and startling sign of unity."
In response to a question from the assembly floor, Midge Roof, a member of the Episcopal Church, said that a second rejection of full communion would probably mean that the Episcopal Church would be less enthusiastic about pursuing relations with Lutherans.
After several hearings and more discussion on the floor of the assembly, the proposal for full communion is intended to come to a vote on Thursday morning. It will require a two-thirds majority to pass.

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