CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and United Methodist Church (UMC) met Sept. 6-9 in Denver to begin the third in a series of dialogues between the two denominations. This dialogue is to explore the two "churches' teachings on sanctification and the Lord's Supper" and consider the implications of a closer relationship of "full communion."
With 8.5 million members, the UMC is the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. With 5.13 million members, the ELCA is the fourth largest. The two churches or their predecessor church bodies conducted official dialogues from 1977 to 1979 and from 1985 to 1987.
The Lutheran co-chair of the dialogue is the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the ELCA's Rocky Mountain Synod, Denver. The United Methodist co-chair is Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, Nashville, Tenn.
"Beginning this new round of conversations, we express our hope for full communion and fellowship between the ELCA and the UMC," Bjornberg and Talbert said in a communique after the meeting. "Previous dialogues provide a solid foundation, and they encourage us to explore further possibilities for partnership in mission and ministry," they said.
"Our predecessors have affirmed our churches' agreement in the areas of baptism and episcopacy, even as they have pointed to issues we must address. Many challenges remain, but we are encouraged greatly by the significant work accomplished by churches through bilateral and multilateral relationships throughout the world," said the communique.
At the dialogue's September meeting, "we explored the central role of Scripture in our churches. We begin our conversations together with the Bible as the foundation of our discussions. We affirm the biblical witness as guiding both churches in their entire life and witness. Our churches confess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, expressed through the historic creeds and confessions and lived out in service and response to the needs of a broken world. We find emerging convergence in our churches' doctrines of grace and baptism," said Bjornberg and Talbert.
The communique noted that similar dialogues the ELCA has conducted have resulted in full communion agreements with the Episcopal Church U.S.A., Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ. The UMC is in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and the member churches of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU). In Europe, United Methodists have entered into agreements with Lutheran and Reformed churches.
"In coming months we expect to explore our churches' teachings on sanctification and the Lord's Supper. We also will consider implications of full communion for sharing the Eucharist, exchanging pastors, and engaging in joint ministry and social witness. It is our hope that our deepening fellowship will strengthen both faith communities for their mission in the world," said Talbert and Bjornberg.
In addition to Bjornberg, ELCA members participating in the dialogue are: Dr. Kathryn L. Johnson, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.; Dr. Cynthia D. Moe-Lobeda, Graduate School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University; Rev. H. Frederick Reisz Jr., Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.; and Rev. Timothy J. Wengert, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
In addition to Talbert, United Methodist participants are: Judith Crain, Green Bay, Wis.; Rev. Amy Laura Hall, Duke Divinity School, Durham, N.C.; Dr. Jean Miller-Schmidt, Iliff School of Theology, Denver; and Rev. Lars-Erik Nordby, Frederikstad, Norway.
The Rev. Betty Gamble, associate general secretary, UMC General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, New York, and the Rev. Paul A. Schreck, associate for bilateral dialogues, ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs, Chicago, are staff of the Lutheran- United Methodist dialogue.
The next meeting of the dialogue will be Feb. 14-17, 2002. Participants plan to meet twice each year.
The ELCA has 10,816 congregations organized in 65 synods, each headed by a bishop, across the United States and Caribbean.
The UMC has 36,361 congregations in 50 episcopal areas across the United States and Puerto Rico. It includes another 1.4 million Methodists in about 5,150 congregations in 18 episcopal areas in Europe, Africa and the Philippines.
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
