Bishop Grants First Exception to ELCA Ordination Policy

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A synod bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) granted the first exception to rules governing the ELCA's full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church. Daniel D. Shaw, a 2002 graduate of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., will be ordained July 20 by his pastor rather than by his bishop.
The Rev. Wm. Chris Boerger, bishop of the ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, Seattle, granted the exception. He said he plans to attend Shaw's ordination at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Wash., "but as a pastor of the ELCA not as a participant in the service."
The ELCA's 2001 Churchwide Assembly adopted a bylaw amendment on ordination in "unusual circumstances," which allows a synod bishop, under certain circumstances, to authorize another pastor of the church to preside at an ordination. The full communion agreement between the ELCA and Episcopal Church directs that "a bishop shall regularly preside and participate in the laying-on-of-hands at the ordination of all clergy."
"In adopting the bylaw on exceptions, the churchwide assembly recognized the desire for unity within the ELCA without diminishing our commitment to full communion with the Episcopal Church," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA.
"I trust this ordination will be a significant healing step for those in the ELCA who continue to express theological opposition" to parts of the agreement, said Hanson, "even as we build upon the new opportunities for shared mission with our full communion partners."
The Rev. Richard H. Foege will ordain Shaw, 26. Foege is pastor of the Tacoma congregation in which he baptized and confirmed Shaw.
Boerger said he granted the exception after consulting with Hanson, his synod council, several pastors in his synod and the Rt. Rev. Vincent W. Warner, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, Wash.
"In his consultations with me, it is clear that Bishop Boerger has fulfilled the intent of the bylaw by exercising thoughtful and pastoral leadership in granting this request," said Hanson. "He has exhibited respect for the conscience of the applicant and the effective ministry of the calling congregation without diminishing his strong ecumenical leadership."
Shaw has consistently questioned the need for ordination by a bishop, said Boerger. The congregation which called Shaw to be its pastor -- Zion Lutheran Church, Kent, Wash. -- has been "vocal" in questioning requirements related to the ELCA's full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church, Boerger added.
The process for securing the exception was "fairly smooth," said Shaw. "Bishop Boerger was forthright and honest from the outset," he said. "The faculty at Luther was very helpful and insightful in exploring the confessional issues and the theological warrants for seeking the exception."
"The reason for [requesting] the exception is due chiefly to how our Lutheran confessional writings make the proper distinction between human and divine authority. The church government, and/or how the church is structured institutionally, is a matter of freedom not law," said Shaw.
"This is Luther's classic distinction between what is law and what is gospel. The gospel means freedom; the law always accuses. To confuse the two is simply to lose the former, which is everything," he said.
"Human traditions do not constitute or make the church. Rather the church is a creature of the Word, and sustained by that Word only," said Shaw. Ordination by a bishop is a human tradition, and to require it "is simply to abrogate the Word from its rightful place, which is the center," he said.
When the ELCA adopted the amendment allowing such exceptions, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said, "It is too early to tell how frequently the ordination in 'unusual circumstances' will occur, or what the Episcopal Church's likely response will be. Only our General Convention can speak officially on that."
The next Episcopal General Convention will be July 30-Aug. 8, 2003, in Minneapolis.

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