ELCA Bishops Suggest Possibilities for CCM Exceptions to Council

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) suggested the presiding bishop and synod council be consulted should a candidate for ordination in the ELCA wish to be ordained without the presence of a synod bishop. The bishops offered the advice to the ELCA Church Council as the council considers the possibility of exceptions to ordination procedures which are required as part of a full communion agreement with The Episcopal Church.
The agreement, "Called to Common Mission," (CCM), was adopted in August 1999 at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and in July 2000 by a general convention of the Episcopal Church. CCM will be implemented Jan. 1, 2001.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body that includes the bishops of the church's 65 synods, the ELCA presiding bishop and the ELCA secretary. The council serves as the ELCA's legislative authority between churchwide assemblies, which are held every two years. The ELCA bishops, who met here Oct. 5-10, examined a series of possible options. They adopted a resolution that advises the council's Legal and Constitutional Review Committee, which is expected to review proposals for exceptions for possible presentation to the full council. The council meets next month in Chicago.

In their advice, the bishops affirmed the council's effort to seek a pastoral means of implementing CCM, recognizing "the theological concerns within this church while seeking to fully and faithfully live in full communion with the Episcopal Church."
The Conference of Bishops said three points are important when considering the possibility of an ordination without the presence of a bishop:
+ that the decision be "a pastoral decision of the synodical bishop informed by the guidelines developed by the ELCA Division for Ministry in consultation with the Conference of Bishops."
+ that the synod bishop "consult with the ELCA presiding bishop to consider the ecumenical implications" of such an action; and
+ that the synod bishop "receive the advice of the synod council under the guidelines."
The bishops' advisory statement, in the form of a resolution, was presented to the Conference of Bishops by the Rev. Stanley S. Olson, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod, on behalf of the bishops' ecumenical affairs committee. There was considerable discussion.
Earlier this year, the ELCA bishops issued a pastoral letter in which they invited "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." They asked the ELCA Church Council, in consultation with the presiding bishop, to pursue the issue "as part of our continued broad consultation in this church and with The Episcopal Church."
Olson said the committee liked the idea that any discussions involving possible exceptions for ordination occur in the synod. Many bishops agreed.
"I support the committee's work," said the Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod. "This (the bishops' advice) has nice balance and consistency." The Rev. Daniel J. Martensen, director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs, sounded a cautionary note during the discussions. "There are certainly voices within the Episcopal Church that would be raised as a matter of concern that we might be undermining CCM," he said. Episcopal Church observers have said little about the ELCA discussions, but are certainly watching them carefully, Martensen said.
The Rev. Lowell S. Almen, ELCA secretary, said any provision for ordination exceptions may be offered to the churchwide assembly by the church council as a proposed bylaw amendment. If so, the council may offer a possible bylaw as late as its spring 2001 meeting, he said.
Almen said he and others are trying to respond fairly to CCM concerns raised by some synods. "There are no games being played here," he said.
The process that may lead to possible CCM ordination exceptions began this summer with a series of resolutions from about one third of the ELCA's 65 synods. Those synods adopted resolutions calling for consideration of exceptions and sent their concerns to the ELCA Church Council. Those who oppose CCM say it threatens Lutheran identity and gives bishops more authority. CCM requires a synod bishop to preside at future Lutheran ordinations; under present practice in the ELCA, a synod bishop may designate another pastor to ordain.

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