wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Opens Discussion on Full Communion with Moravians

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY OPENS DISCUSSION ON FULL COMMUNION WITH MORAVIANS
99-CWA-14-CA

     DENVER (ELCA) -- A proposal to declare full communion between the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a denomination that
traces its origins to a church reformer who preceded Martin Luther was
presented at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly here Aug. 17.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center.  There
are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Hope for a New Century."
     The document, "Following Our Shepherd to Full Communion," would
make it possible for the 5.2 million-member ELCA to cooperate with and
exchange clergy with the Moravian Church in America.  The Northern and
Southern Provinces of the 50,000-member Moravian church have already
approved the proposal.
     The proposal comes following seven years of dialogue between the
two church bodies.  In a way, said the Rev. Walter H. Wagner, co-chair
of the dialogue, the report concludes discussions begun hundreds of
years ago and picks up where a meeting on the American continent in the
18th century failed.  Wagner is an ELCA pastor from Allentown, Pa.
     The Moravians trace their theological roots to the Czech reformer
John Hus, burned at the stake in 1415, more than a hundred years before
Martin Luther attempted to reform the church that resulted in the
Protestant Reformation.  A priest like Luther, Hus contended that
worship ought to be in a language understood by the people, that the
Bible should be read by everyone and that the church was in need of
spiritual renewal.
     His followers, who became known as the Unitas Fratrum or Unity of
Brethren, had friendly contacts with Luther a century later, but
historical events caused the reforming Christians to go separate ways.
     "Brethren" received the name "Moravians," when -- persecuted in
both Lutheran and Catholic lands -- they settled in Moravia.
     The spiritual father of American Moravians, Count von Zinzendorf,
came to the American colonies early in the 18th Century, having been
strongly influenced by both Lutherans and the Unity of Brethren in
Europe.  Though he intended to serve all Germans, Zinzendorf and Henry
Melchior Muhlenberg, who was organizing Lutheran congregations in the
colonies, clashed over how the new churches should be governed and led.
     Though Lutherans and Moravians take different approaches to the
development of church teaching, they have found agreement in the
essentials of scripture and church doctrine.
     "Lutherans and Moravians share the same emphases and
understandings of the biblical and Reformation theme of justification by
faith through grace without works of the law," the proposed document
said.
     The Rev. Otto Dreydoppel Jr., director of Moravian studies at
Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa., told the ELCA assembly
"this is the right time and the right place to do this."
     Members of the assembly questioned the dialogue leaders about
Moravian teachings and practices, but the questions did not bear the
contentious edge of the ones put to leaders of the Lutheran-Episcopal
dialogue.  Lutherans are also considering full communion with the
Episcopalians, but there is considerable dissent among Lutherans about
some aspects of that proposal.
     After more discussion, the proposal for full communion with the
Moravians is expected to reach the assembly floor for a vote on Aug. 19.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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