wfn.org | Lutherans and Episcopalians look into the future

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2000-127

Lutherans and Episcopalians look into the future--together

by Ron Englund

     (ENS) "Where do we go from here?" That was the major 
question discussed at a conference of Episcopalians and Lutherans 
held July 21-24 at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.

     The question arises from the adoption this summer of "Called 
to Common Mission" (CCM), an agreement which brings the 5.2 
million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and 
the 2.4 million member Episcopal Church into full communion with 
each other. The Anglican-Lutheran Society sponsored the 
conference under the theme, "Living into Full Communion." Several 
Roman Catholics were among the more than 50 who took part in the 
sessions.

     "Full communion" is not a merger but will bring these 
American churches into partnership in their ministries, a 
partnership that includes interchangeability of their clergy. The 
ELCA adopted CCM at its Churchwide Assembly last year while the 
Episcopal Church adopted this historic agreement at its July 
General Convention in Denver.

     Speakers from the United States and Europe discussed the 
implication of CCM and compared it with two Anglican-Lutheran 
agreements in Europe: the 1991 Meissen Agreement between the 
Church of England and the Evangelical (Lutheran, Reformed and 
United) Churches in Germany; and the 1996 Porvoo Agreement 
between the British and Irish Anglican churches and the Nordic 
and Baltic Lutheran churches.

Convergence in worship

     Dr. William Petersen, professor of church history at Bexley 
Hall, an Episcopal theological seminary in Rochester, New York, 
spoke on CCM from an Anglican perspective. He noted that, in 
their dialogues through the years, Lutherans and Episcopalians 
have found a convergence in worship and liturgy. 

     He urged that Episcopal and Lutheran congregations "be 
intentional about worshipping together four or five times a 
year." Because of difficulties in joint worship on Sunday 
mornings, he suggests major festivals such as Epiphany, the 
festival of the Wise Men on January 6; Ash Wednesday, the 
beginning of Lent; Reformation Day, October 31; and All Saints' 
Day, November 1. He reminded the participants that liturgy has a 
service aspect and must lead to practical ways of serving people 
in the community. This may be done more effectively by joint 
efforts of the churches.

     Petersen also noted that Christian education, especially 
among adults, offers possibilities for joint courses with the 
opportunity for members of each church to share in the tradition 
and gifts of the other church. He said that ecumenical 
conversations need to be frank and honest. "Unity in Christ must 
not be a pious dream but a practical reality," he added.

Unity in reconciled diversity

     Dr. Michael Root, professor of theology at Trinity Lutheran 
Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, spoke of the background of CCM and 
difficulties some Lutherans have in accepting the new 
relationship with the Episcopal Church. While Lutherans and 
Episcopalians agree on the doctrine of apostolic succession, an 
ongoing "faithful proclamation of Christ," the Episcopal Church 
brings to the new relationship the "historic episcopate," a 
succession of bishops as a sign of unity going back to the early 
days of the Christian Church.

     The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will receive the 
historic episcopate in the new agreement. Even though many 
Lutheran churches around the world already have the historic 
episcopate, a minority of ELCA members have opposed this aspect 
of CCM, claiming that it violates Lutheran teaching that 
agreement on the gospel and sacraments is all that is necessary 
for church unity.

     Root said that reasons for Lutheran opposition to CCM 
include questions of Lutheran identity and a general mistrust of 
central authority. He also noted that some Lutherans see their 
church as a denomination on its own, while other Lutherans see 
their church as a movement within the church catholic.

     Root also pointed out that, until the 1970s, the ecumenical 
goal was the structural merger of the churches. Now the 
ecumenical goal is "unity in reconciled diversity" where churches 
keep their identities but share in ministry, sacraments, witness 
and service. However, he cautioned against saying, "Now we've 
done it," seeing the present agreement as the final goal. 

European agreements

     Bishop David Tustin, an international ecumenical leader who 
retired this spring as Anglican bishop of Grimsby, England, 
discussed the two major Anglican-Lutheran agreements in Europe. 
While the Meissen Agreement does not involve full communion, it 
has led to many important contacts between the churches on a 
parish and regional level. More than half of the dioceses of the 
Church of England have partnerships with churches in Germany, he 
pointed out. Tustin also told of Anglican-Lutheran dialogues and 
agreements in Canada, Brazil and countries in Africa

     The Porvoo Agreement is a relationship of full communion 
similar to Called to Common Mission. The Very Rev. Margarethe 
Isberg, dean of Västerås Cathedral in the Church of Sweden, told 
of the growing number of contacts between the Anglican and 
Lutheran churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but also the 
churches in the Nordic and Baltic countries. She pointed out that 
"the life of Porvoo is most visible in parishes." Contacts and 
exchange visits are taking place among youth, teachers and other 
lay members as well as among clergy.

     Bishop Theodore F. Schneider of the ELCA Metropolitan 
Washington (DC) Synod, summed up the difference that CCM makes 
by saying, "I always realized that when I walked into an Episcopal 
Church I would be welcomed. Now I know that I belong. And that's 
a wonderful difference."

Beyond stereotypes

     The Rev. Paul Lee, ecumenical officer for the Roman Catholic 
Diocese of Washington, DC, spoke on the final day about Lutheran-
Roman Catholic and Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogues. He said 
that "the fact that we've been able to get together for serious 
dialogue in the past 30 years, after our centuries of separation 
and often hostility, is truly remarkable." He spoke of the 
importance of the "reconciliation and purification of memories" 
of the long hurt that has been experienced because of hatred and 
prejudice. "We need to go beyond stereotypes of each other," he 
added.

     The conference was organized by the Anglican-Lutheran 
Society which works for better understanding between the 
Anglican/Episcopal churches and the Lutheran churches around the 
world. Founded in England in 1984, the society's American 
membership has grown significantly in recent years. Its next 
conference will be held in Ratzeburg, Germany, September 14-17, 
2001.

--Ron Englund is a Lutheran pastor who has served churches in 
London and is now living in Massachusetts.