DENVER (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a proposal to enter into full communion with the Moravian Church in America with an Aug. 19 vote of 1,007 to 11 -- or 98.9 percent approval. The Moravian Northern and Southern Provinces accepted the proposal in 1998.
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."
Through the agreement, "Following Our Shepherd to Full Communion," the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Moravian Church in America recognize: -- "in one another the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith;" -- "the authenticity of each other's Baptisms and Eucharist;" -- "each other's ordinations of persons to the ministry of Word and sacrament;" -- "each other's polity and ministries of oversight;" and -- "the full interchangeability and reciprocity of all ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament."
The vote authorized the establishment of a joint commission by June 2000 that will coordinate the implementation of the agreement.
The 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a relationship of full communion with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
