wfn.org | LWF on Joint Declaration -- A. Background 3 & 4 -- Responses

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

3.   Summary of the analysis of the responses by the LWF member churches
to the "Joint Declaration" by the Institute for Ecumenical Research,
Strasbourg

     (NOTE: The numbers below reflect the responses received and made
available to members at the time of the Council's vote, though for
production and translation reasons they were not part of the original
document.)

a.   At the time of the writing of this analysis (June 12, 1998), 89
member churches out of the total 122 member churches and 2 associate member
churches have responded to the General Secretary's letter of February 1997.
These churches represent 54,716,821 Lutherans, i.e., 95% of the Lutherans
within the LWF. They come from all regions of the LWF: Africa (19), Asia
(23), Europe (33), Latin America (11), and North America (3).

b.   The responses were analyzed in relation to the conclusions of the
"Joint Declaration" (40 and 41) and the question posed in the General
Secretary's letter.

c.   Of the 89 churches responding to the "Joint Declaration," 80 have
answered "yes." Five churches have answered "no." One answer is difficult
to interpret but seems to be a "yes." Three answers are difficult to
interpret, but seem to be "no."

d.   The 80 "yes" answers represent 89.9% of the responses received (91%
if the "difficult to interpret but seems to be yes" answer is included). In
addition, these answers represent 45,137,913 Lutherans or 78.3% of the
Lutherans in the LWF (48,470,654 Lutherans and 84.1% of the Lutherans in
the LWF if the "difficult to interpret but seems to be yes" answer is
included). Churches representing a solid majority of the Lutheran communion
have thus endorsed the "Joint Declaration".

e.   The 5 negative answers represent 5.6% of the responses (9% if the
"difficult to interpret but seems to be no" answers are added). They
represent 1,598,287 Lutherans or 2.7% of the Lutherans within the LWF
(6,246,167) (10.8% of the Lutherans within the LWF if the "difficult to
interpret but seems to be no" answers are added). By any count, the
negative answers are vastly outweighed by the positive answers.

f.   According to the Strasbourg analysis an affirmation of the
conclusions of the "Joint Declaration" by the Council would be fully in
line with the consensus indicated by the responses.

4.   Some points arising from, and related to, the study process in the
churches

a.   The majority of the replies received from member churches express, in
one way or another, their appreciation for the "Joint Declaration" process.
Also, some churches have already at this stage found the study and
reception process fruitful in ecumenical relationships.

b.   Certain topics were, nevertheless, found especially difficult, and
have been the object of intense discussions. Such topics were noted as
problems even by some churches which have affirmed the "Joint Declaration"
and will need to be the focus of continued discussion between Lutherans and
Catholics. The most significant difficulties related to the status of the
doctrine of justification as criterion (18), concupiscence and sin in the
justified (28-30), and the relation of good works to the preservation of
grace (38).

c.   In addition to these issues directly related to justification, the
debate has shown the need for further exploration of an adequate concept of
ecumenical consensus. The "Joint Declaration" sets forth what may be called
a differentiated consensus, i.e., a consensus sufficient for a specific
purpose and thus compatible with remaining differences. The agreement "does
not cover all that either church teaches about justification." It is
compatible with remaining differences in that these differences "are no
longer the occasion for doctrinal condemnations" (5).

d.   The hope has been expressed by many that a successful conclusion of
the "Joint Declaration" as a mutual, ecumenical agreement in the area of
justification and the non-applicability of the condemnations from the 16th
century, will have pastoral consequences in the future for the relationship
between Lutherans and Catholics even on the parish level, among other
things in the area of common prayer and worship. Although the "Joint
Declaration" does not as such solve remaining differences regarding
ministry and sacraments, it is hoped that the "Joint Declaration" will be
an important basis for progress also in those areas.

Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/