wfn.org | Assembly to Decide on "Full Communion" with Lutherans

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

9-June-1997 
97249 
 
      Assembly to Decide on "Full Communion" with Lutherans 
 
                     by Theodore A. Gill Jr. 
            Reprinted from "The Presbyterian Outlook" 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--"Full communion," a mutual ecclesial recognition by four 
participating Lutheran and Reformed churches, will be considered this 
summer by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and three partners in ecumenical 
dialogue. 
 
     A brief resolution of full communion will be voted on by the upcoming 
General Assembly in Syracuse as well as by the national governing bodies of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Reformed Church in 
America (RCA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC).  If it is passed -- 
all four must approve the proposal prior to its implemenation -- PC(USA) 
presbyteries would also vote on an addition to the "Book of Order" 
incorporating "full communion." 
 
     Adoption by the churches would mark the culmination of a 35-year 
conversation in the United States, originated under the auspices of the 
World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.  The 
PC(USA), RCA and UCC together represent the Reformed side of the dialogue. 
 
     In 1986, these three passed a similar but less far-reaching proposal 
for "full pulpit and altar fellowship" with Lutherans.  At that time, the 
Lutherans in the dialogue postponed their vote because they were on the 
brink of merging denominations to form today's ELCA.  In the ensuing years, 
further conversation has produced the documents "A Common Calling" and "A 
Formula for Agreement." 
 
     This year's proposal calls not only for mutual recognition of one 
another's faith, ministries and sacraments, but also withdraws all historic 
condemnations by one side against the other and pledges the churches "to 
living together under the gospel in such a way that the principle of mutual 
affirmation and admonition becomes the basis for a trusting relationship in 
which respect and love for the other will have a chance to grow." 
 
     Lutheran theologian Michael Root has observed that the strength of the 
Lutheran/Reformed plan is its "focus on what is really fundamental" in 
Christian faith and practice "while at the same time the proposal values 
the distinctiveness of each tradition."  The proposal recognized that there 
remain legitimate differences between Lutheran and Reformed believers, but 
the emphasis on "mutual admonition" in addition to "affirmation" allows for 
each tradition to be complemented, critiqued or corrected by the other. 
 
     Unlike the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) proposal defeated by 
presbyteries this year, the Lutheran/Reformed agreement neither raises 
controversial topics such as the historic episcopacy nor suggests a new 
pattern of administration along the lines of COCU's "covenanting councils." 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--