ELCA Assembly Opens Discussion on Full Communion with Moravians

DENVER (ELCA) -- A proposal to declare full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a denomination that traces its origins to a church reformer who preceded Martin Luther was presented at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly here Aug. 17.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 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."
The document, "Following Our Shepherd to Full Communion," would make it possible for the 5.2 million-member ELCA to cooperate with and exchange clergy with the Moravian Church in America. The Northern and Southern Provinces of the 50,000-member Moravian church have already approved the proposal.
The proposal comes following seven years of dialogue between the two church bodies. In a way, said the Rev. Walter H. Wagner, co-chair of the dialogue, the report concludes discussions begun hundreds of years ago and picks up where a meeting on the American continent in the 18th century failed. Wagner is an ELCA pastor from Allentown, Pa.
The Moravians trace their theological roots to the Czech reformer John Hus, burned at the stake in 1415, more than a hundred years before Martin Luther attempted to reform the church that resulted in the Protestant Reformation. A priest like Luther, Hus contended that worship ought to be in a language understood by the people, that the Bible should be read by everyone and that the church was in need of spiritual renewal.
His followers, who became known as the Unitas Fratrum or Unity of Brethren, had friendly contacts with Luther a century later, but historical events caused the reforming Christians to go separate ways.
"Brethren" received the name "Moravians," when -- persecuted in both Lutheran and Catholic lands -- they settled in Moravia.
The spiritual father of American Moravians, Count von Zinzendorf, came to the American colonies early in the 18th Century, having been strongly influenced by both Lutherans and the Unity of Brethren in Europe. Though he intended to serve all Germans, Zinzendorf and Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who was organizing Lutheran congregations in the colonies, clashed over how the new churches should be governed and led.
Though Lutherans and Moravians take different approaches to the development of church teaching, they have found agreement in the essentials of scripture and church doctrine.
"Lutherans and Moravians share the same emphases and understandings of the biblical and Reformation theme of justification by faith through grace without works of the law," the proposed document said.
The Rev. Otto Dreydoppel Jr., director of Moravian studies at Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa., told the ELCA assembly "this is the right time and the right place to do this."
Members of the assembly questioned the dialogue leaders about Moravian teachings and practices, but the questions did not bear the contentious edge of the ones put to leaders of the Lutheran-Episcopal dialogue. Lutherans are also considering full communion with the Episcopalians, but there is considerable dissent among Lutherans about some aspects of that proposal.
After more discussion, the proposal for full communion with the Moravians is expected to reach the assembly floor for a vote on Aug. 19.

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