wfn.org | Martin Marty to Head Concordat Writing Team

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 26, 1997

NEW CONCORDAT WRITERS CHOSEN
97-35-106-AH

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Martin E. Marty,
Chicago, will head up the writing team that will
undertake a revision of the "Concordat of
Agreement," on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.  Also on the team authorized by
the ELCA Church Council are the Rev. Todd W.
Nichol, St. Paul, and Dr. Michael Root,
Strasbourg, France.  They will be joined by three
representatives from The Episcopal Church.
     The Rev. Daniel F. Martensen, ELCA director
for ecumenical affairs said, "As of today we have
begun the process of developing a revised proposal
for full communion with The Episcopal Church."
     The council asked the presiding bishops of
the ELCA and The Episcopal Church to rework the
Concordat with a draft document ready to show the
ELCA's spring synod assemblies.
     The council's Nov. 16 action also calls for a
panel of advisors.  They are: Terry Bowes,
Longmont, Colo.; Kathryn Kelker, Billings, Mont.;
the Rev. Joan A. Mau, Washington Island, Wis.;
Mary Beth A. Peterson, Omaha; the Rev. Thomas A.
Prinz, Alexandria, Va.; Albert Quie, Minnetonka,
Minn.; Bishop Peter Rogness, Milwaukee; Nelvin
Vos, Maxatawny, Pa.; and Bishop Ronald B. Warren,
Atlanta.
     At its Churchwide Assembly in August the ELCA
narrowly defeated the original Concordat, which
would have established full communion between the
two churches.  But the assembly rededicated the
church to work toward that relationship.
     "We are attempting to consult as widely as
possible and to respect the variety of concerns
voiced by those opposed to the Concordat and those
who affirmed it, Martensen said.
     In a letter the Rev. H. George Anderson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA, expressed thanks to
the writing team, adding, "You are given a big
job and a relatively short time to complete it."
He outlined some areas where "a degree of
consensus" has been achieved and some "concerns"
that have emerged.
     In addition to leading the writing team,
Marty will serve as moderator for the advisory
panel.  Marty, a pastor of the ELCA, is Fairfax
M. Cone Distinguished Professor of American
religion at the University of Chicago and
publisher of "Christian Century."
     Nichol is associate professor of church
history at Luther Seminary, St. Paul.  Root
teaches at the Institute for Ecumenical Research
at Strasbourg until April when he will move to
Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.

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