wfn.org | Ecumenical Relations Comm okays Lutheran-Reformed Plan

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

16-June-1997 
GA97043 
 
                     ECUMENICAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE 
                      OKAYS LUTHERAN-REFORMED PLAN 
 
                           by Jerry Van Marter 
 
SYRACUSE--The Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations voted Monday 
afternoon to recommend that the 209th General Assembly approve the "Formula 
for Agreement" establishing "full communion" between the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
 
    The agreement, which also includes the Reformed Church in America and 
the United Church of Christ, was approved with only one negative vote.  If 
approved by the Assembly, the "Formula for Agreement" will be sent to the 
presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes. 
 
    Two concerns raised in the wake of discussions around the Consultation 
on Church Union -- about creating additional bureaucratic structures and 
creating loopholes in Presbyterian ordination standards -- were answered by 
a committee recommendation that a cover letter be sent to the presbyteries 
with the document.  The letter will state that "it is the clear 
understanding that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) retains its own 
standards of ordination and no new structures are mandated by this 
agreement." 
 
    The Rev. David Wilkinson of Santa Barbara Presbytery praised the 
agreement as "an outstanding document" and said the cover letter "coming on 
the heels of the COCU vote will remove difficulties when it gets to the 
presbyteries." 
 
    The agreement means that the four churches: 
 
    *recognize each other as churches "in which the gospel is rightly 
preached and the sacraments rightly administered" 
 
    *withdraw historic condemnations of each other 
 
    *continue to recognize each other's baptism and authorize "and 
encourage" sharing of communion 
 
    *recognize each other's various ministries and make provisions for "the 
orderly exchange of ordained ministers" 
 
    *pledge themselves to continued dialogue under the principle of "mutual 
affirmation and admonition." 

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