wfn.org | Lutheran, Reformed Prepare for Votes

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 26, 1997

LUTHERAN, REFORMED PREPARE FOR VOTES
97-06-014-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fourteen "theological agreements" will be
presented to members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and three Reformed churches before they vote on entering
into "full communion."  A Lutheran-Reformed Coordinating
Committee decided the points of "fundamental doctrinal consensus"
reached in 1983 will be in the introduction to a resolution the
four churches' assemblies consider this summer.
     The ELCA's New England Synod asked the committee for
"preface materials or commentary that would include reference to
some of the theological agreements and theological understandings
that have grown out of earlier dialogues," said the Rev. John H.
Thomas, assistant to the president for ecumenical concerns,
United Church of Christ, Cleveland.  Thomas is the Reformed co-
chair of the committee.
     The nine Lutherans and 10 members from the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of
Christ drafted the resolution last year that each of the four
churches will vote on.  Before the committee adjourned its "final
anticipated meeting" here Feb. 2-4, it decided to add an
introduction that cites fourteen points of "doctrine and
practice" that a Lutheran-Reformed dialogue published in 1983 in
"An Invitation to Action."
     The fourteen points include that both Lutheran and Reformed
traditions "confess the Nicene and Apostles Creeds" and "ordain
once to a ministry of Word and Sacrament, and the functions of
such persons are identical."
     Each church will vote on the resolution to "adopt `A Formula
of Agreement' on the basis of `A Common Calling' and declare that
it is in full communion" with the other churches.  Other resolves
will make the agreement effective when all four churches pass the
resolution and appoint a committee to coordinate its
implementation.
     "A Common Calling" was the report of the Lutheran-Reformed
Committee for Theological Conversations 1988-1992, ending with
the recommendation that the four participating church bodies
enter into full communion.  The "Formula of Agreement" was issued
in 1995 clarifying how to implement full communion.
     Under full communion the churches will not merge, but they
will agree to such things as "a mutual recognition and
availability of ordained ministers to the service of all members
of churches in full communion, subject only but always to the
disciplinary regulations of the other churches," and "a mutual
lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches."
     "There was a very positive sense around the table of the
mood and the spirit in each of the churches," Thomas said after
the committee meeting.  "Each of the churches has different
dynamics, but we felt that there has been growth in support in
all of the churches for the proposal for full communion."
     "We are recommending that the committee remain in place
through the votes this summer and that the committee be available
for any unforeseen questions or concerns that may come up," he
said.  "The committee is recommending that each church invite
representatives from the other three" to be present for its vote.
     The Reformed Church in America will hold its General Synod
in Milwaukee, June 14-20.  The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will
hold its General Assembly in Syracuse, N.Y., June 14-21.  The
United Church of Christ will hold its General Synod in Columbus,
Ohio, July 3-8.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will
hold its Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia, Aug. 14-20.
     The committee is also recommending that heads of each church
appoint an interim committee to anticipate positive votes for
full communion.  That committee could organize a "national
service of celebration of full communion" and could clarify
details around "the availability of clergy for service in each
church," said Thomas.
     "The vote does not mean the end of people growing into an
awareness of what full communion means," he added.  "Voting
delegates are clearly the focus right now, because they're the
ones who have the responsibility to make a decision.  Beyond
that, it expands in various ways."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html