ELCA Bishops Adopt Pastoral Letter on 'Called to Common Mission'

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ELCA) -- In an effort to maintain unity in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA Conference of Bishops adopted a pastoral letter March 6 on the implementation of a full communion proposal with The Episcopal Church. The bishops' letter, seen as risky by some bishops, is a response to "continuing tensions" within the church over the proposal, the letter said.
The full communion proposal, "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), was adopted 716-317 at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver and is controversial for some Lutherans. A general convention of the Episcopal Church will consider the same proposal when it meets in July, also in Denver.
The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body that includes the 65 ELCA synodical bishops, presiding bishop and ELCA Secretary. Their letter is addressed to ELCA's 5.2 million members.
The ELCA bishops' letter said the adoption of CCM "caused great hope and thankfulness, but also deep concern and opposition." The letter affirmed the churchwide assembly's action to adopt CCM and expressed hope that the Episcopal Church would act favorably on it. The bishops said they were "grateful" for conversations on CCM. The letter said the bishops look forward to working together with brothers and sisters "of diverse views" in the ELCA and the Episcopal Church on the implementation of CCM.
"We ask that such implementation be pastorally and jointly achieved," the ELCA bishops said.
For some Lutherans CCM is unacceptable because it requires the ELCA to observe the historic episcopate, a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to the earliest days of the Christian church. Under CCM, ELCA bishops are required to preside at all ordinations. Presently, Lutheran bishops may designate another ordained pastor to preside. Lutherans who oppose CCM say it threatens Lutheran identity and changes the role of bishops in the church. Since its adoption, debate over CCM has been a time-consuming issue for some ELCA bishops, and it has generated discussion in some areas of the church.
The bishops' pastoral letter attempts to answer CCM opponents by suggesting the possibility of discussions to explore exceptions for those Lutheran ordinands who cannot accept the historic episcopate.
"As we gradually move into full communion, we invite the exploration of possible ways to allow a synodical bishop, in unusual circumstances and with appropriate consultation, to authorize another ELCA pastor to preside at an ordination," the bishops said. "We ask the ELCA Church Council, in consultation with the presiding bishop of this church, to pursue this exploration as part of our continued broad consultation in this church and with The Episcopal Church."
The bishops appealed for ELCA members -- including themselves -- to engage in truthful discussion of CCM. "As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are summoned ... to put away falsehood and speak the truth in love," they said, citing Ephesians 4:25 of the Christian Bible. The bishops "recommitted" themselves to this call in their letter.
The pastoral letter was adopted without audible objection, following a five-hour discussion over three days. The letter was drafted by a five-member team of conference members who worked some eight hours during the bishops' meeting here March 2-7.
The bishops prayed before their vote to adopt the letter, and stood and applauded when the vote was completed.
"I'm very pleased we were able to adopt this letter in revised form," said the Rev. Stanley N. Olson, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls, Minn., and chair of the drafting team. "It will be very helpful to those with theological concerns about the historic episcopate. People I talk to are committed to this church. I think they will see this as a hopeful sign from the bishops." Olson said in his area there have been many questions about CCM.
Other members of the pastoral letter's drafting team were the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, Chicago; the Rev. Lee M. Miller, bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod, Syracuse; the Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod, Waverly; and the Rev. Howard E. Wennes, bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, Phoenix.
The Rev. Richard J. Foss, bishop of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, said the pastoral letter "is the most helpful thing I've come across. It solves for me that someone may be ordained in this church without a physical touch from someone who is in the historic episcopate." Foss is opposed to CCM.
"This will be taken as a sign of great risk," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the Saint Paul (Minn.) Area Synod. "I pray that it will not jeopardize Called to Common Mission and will make the Episcopal Church aware of where we stand." During the discussion, Hanson urged his colleagues to assume stronger leadership on the CCM issue.
The Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop, expressed concern that Episcopalians understand the ELCA bishops are not suggesting changes in the CCM text. Rather, they have offered suggestions on CCM's implementation to be explored in consultation with the Episcopal Church, Anderson said. He said he would convey the pastoral letter to the Episcopal Church.
During the discussion, several bishops said it was important for the conference to speak to the ELCA on CCM and speak clearly. The bishops turned down attempts to modify or delete the letter's language on the exploration of possible exceptions to the synodical bishops' role in ordinations.
"It's very important that we clearly mention what is the concern here," said the Rev. Richard J. Jessen, bishop of the ELCA Nebraska Synod, Omaha, a CCM proponent.
"Although we hear angry voices and threats, a large number of congregations in my synod will be receptive to any action to be flexible," said the Rev. David W. Olson, bishop of the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod.
Early in the meeting, the bishops discussed the "Common Ground Resolution," a series of suggestions on CCM that would require considerable constitutional changes if they were to be implemented. The suggestions were sent for possible consideration to the bishops, to Presiding Bishop Anderson, the ELCA Church Council and the WordAlone Network, an interim organization that serves people opposed to CCM. The resolution came from an unofficial dialogue of proponents and opponents of CCM in Milwaukee last month.
"The Common Ground Resolution was not an attempt to shape a poison pill that would cause the Episcopal Church to vote no," said the Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod. Rogness was a participant in the dialogue and was among 17 of 18 participants that approved the resolution.
A "significant portion" of the ELCA is having difficulty with the historic episcopate, and, unless the bishops acknowledge the significance of 'Common Ground,' ongoing events related to CCM "will continue to play out in a pretty destructive way," he said.
"The Milwaukee proposal seems to be trying to create a bigger tent for all in the church," said the Rev. John C. Beem, bishop of the ELCA East-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Appleton.
"We have to acknowledge that there is a portion of people in the church who have a major problem within their consciences" over CCM, said the Rev. E. Peter Strommen, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod, Duluth, Minn. The comment related to opponents' acceptance of the historic episcopate.
"Those who favor CCM are also driven by their consciences," said the Rev. Paull (correct spelling) E. Spring, bishop of the ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Seneca. Spring also asked the group if there is a way to implement CCM over a period of several years.
"I'm concerned about the unity of our church," Spring said.