wfn.org | France: Lutheran and Reformed Churches in Alsace and Lorraine

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

France: Lutheran, Reformed Churches in Alsace and Lorraine Form Union
Protestant Body Not a Merger, but Will Give Impulse to Proclamation of Gospel
in Society 

STRASBOURG, France/GENEVA, 21 December 2004 (LWI) - A joint assembly of the
synod of the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (ERAL) and of the upper
consistory of the Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine
(ECAAL) voted by a large majority in favor of establishing the Union of
Protestant Churches in Alsace and Lorraine (UEPAL).

At the November 20-21 joint assembly in Strasbourg, France, ECAAL's upper
consistory cast 20 votes in favor of forming the new organization with one
abstention. The Reformed synod voted 26 in favor and three against the union
with one abstention. The UEPAL is not intended to be a merger, nor the
founding of a new church. It will support the churches in their mission of
proclaiming the gospel in society "convincingly and audibly," ECAAL stated in
a press release.

The new structure as underlined in the signatory document, will allow the
churches "to better combine their efforts to give new impulse to their
presence in the public and to better serve the gospel calling." To come into
force, the union must be confirmed by a French government decree. 

ERAL Synod President, Rev. Jean-Paul Humbert, spoke to the joint assembly
about the "necessity of a critical and liberal interpretation of the biblical
message" which "takes scientific and social progress seriously." Both
churches were called to "provide saving guidance which leads the world along
the path of freedom." He remarked: "In a world in which peace is elusive, we
have taken a small step toward a reconciliation and a greater communion."

The union of the two churches was a first step on and contribution to this
path, underlined ECAAL President, Rev. Dr Jean-Frangois Collange. He
expressed appreciation of the joint assembly decision saying the adoption of
the union "makes it possible for us to take the major steps together." He
noted, "We are moving forward in a difficult world, and that is why we came
together along the way. Getting here required arduous and frank debate, and
we could only advance by making compromises." 

The joint assembly resolved that the UEPAL should not intervene in the
internal affairs of the congregations, consistories or districts. The basic
structure of the two churches would remain intact and both churches would
maintain their membership such as in international bodies, according to the
ECAAL statement. 

In order to give better expression to the churches' common identity in the
name UEPAL, it was resolved to change the churches' names. When the Union
comes into force, the ECAAL will be the Protestant Church of the Augsburg
Confession in Alsace and Lorraine (EPCAAL) and ERAL the Protestant Reformed
Church in Alsace and Lorraine (EPRAL).

In addition, the joint assembly of the synod and upper consistory resolved
that, for church purposes, there would only be pastors of the Union in future
and not of the individual churches.

A Union synod will govern all issues relating to the new body and will
replace the joint assembly. The plan provides for the joint church
authorities to appoint a council which will meet in both expanded (15
members) and smaller (6 members) forms. All governing bodies shall be
composed of two thirds of elected members from EPCAAL and one third from
EPRAL. At present, membership in the joint assembly includes an equal number
from each church.
 
The legislative bodies of both churches (synod and upper consistory) shall
delegate their main decision-making responsibility to the Union synod. The
financial authority of the Union synod shall remain limited for the time
being.

Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of the French Protestant Federation
remarked: "Finally, the 1973 Leuenberg Agreement is bearing concrete fruits.
This union is no confusion, it brings richness together."

The 210,000-member ECAAL joined the Lutheran World Federation 1947. The ERAL
with 33,000 members, belongs to the Geneva-based World Council of Churches
and World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Both churches are affiliated to the
Leuenberg Church Fellowship.(677 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member
churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 65
million Lutherans. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of
common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
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