wfn.org | Episcopal bishops move forward in h

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org]

July 16, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

ENSGC-01-05
1st LEAD WRITETHRU
CONTAINS NEW INFORMATION, REACTIONS FROM LUTHERAN AND EPISCOPAL LEADERS

Episcopal bishops move forward in historic agreement with Lutherans

By Walt Gordon

PHILADELPHIA (July 16, 1997) - "Breakthrough," "milestone," and "an ecumenical event without parallel" are the terms being used to describe today's historic vote in the Episcopal House of Bishops to approve the Concordat of Agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The agreement, which must be approved tomorrow by the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies - and by the ELCA when it meets in here in August, would establish "full communion" between the two churches. 

Bishops gave the vote a standing ovation and moved about the floor embracing each other before adjourning for the day.

Today's vote accepts the Concordat of Agreement  document, which outlines  the principle of "full communion" between the two churches. Although the convention must still consider two more resolutions that will make necessary changes in the church's constitution for the agreement to take effect, today's vote was considered the key decision in the process. 

A final vote on the constitutional provisions will need approval by the next General Convention, three years from now in Denver.

The historic vote came on the opening day of the 72nd General Convention and paves the way for the Lutheran and Episcopal churches to recognize fully each other's ministries and usher in a new era of cooperation in carrying out the mission of the church. The Concordat was approved by an overwhelming majority of the House of Bishops with only a handful of no votes.

Following the vote, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning said, "I had a dream last night it would happen exactly like this."  

The House of Bishops responded to the vote with a standing ovation and singing of the doxology.

Reactions positive

The Rev. William Rusch, former ELCA  ecumencial officer, said, "As this century draws to an end, no matter what else happens in this process, this action will be viewed as an ecumenical event without parallel, and it will be seen as a breakthrough and a challenge to many other churches at this time. We can only give thanks. It is a privilege to be a witness to this moment and a part of this event."

The Rev. William Norgren, Rusch's counterpart in the Episcopal Church, oversaw many years of the ecumenical dialogues. The bishops' vote ranked "right up at the top" in his career,  he said. "I feel terrific. We're looking forward to an equally terrific response in the House of Deputies," Norgren said. 

Recognizing there has been more opposition to the agreement in the Lutheran Church than in the Episcopal Church, he said, "We're looking for support for the Concordat in the ELCA, but we don't yet know enough to know how that will come out.... That's another community with another culture."

ELCA Bishop Ralph Kempski of the Indiana and Kentucky Synod, which has been very active in developing shared ministries with its Episcopal counterpart, the Diocese of Kentucky, told the bishops the vote is the best birthday present he could ever have. Kempski, who turned 63 today, said,"You have made this a special day. God thank you all." 

The speed of the vote caught many by surprise. The Rev. David Perry, the Episcopal Church's ecumenical officer, said, "I never expected that they would act so quickly. I wasn't even in the room for the discussion."

Perry gave much of the credit to Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning for the success of the Concordat so far. "This is a wonderful celebration of his ministry."

Dr. Robert Wright of General Theological Seminary in New York, who serves as a theological consultant to the Episcopal Church's Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations, said, "This historic decision represents a milestone in the history of the Episcopal Church. 

"The Concordat now stands as our offer to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for the sake of all God's people. Although at this point it awaits fulfillment from the House of Deputies, when that is given our offer will be before the ELCA when it meets this summer."

Bishop Edward Lee of the Diocese Western Michigan, chair of the House of Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical Relations, described the vote as "one of those breakthrough moments because it finally addresses the question of the sacramental character of the church, and in so doing recognizes the authenticity of the two traditions. 

"It is the litmus test of whether you're going to be serious about Christian unity - not just ecumencial relations but real church unity.  We can now celebrate in full communion, in complete reconciliation, because we recognize the apostolic character of each other's churches."

Status of deacons questioned

The vote took place after relatively little discussion by the bishops.

One point of concern was raised by Bishop William Wantland of the Diocese of Eau Claire, who questioned adopting the agreement because of differences with the Lutherans over the status of deacons. The ELCA does not recognize the diaconate as an ordained ministry, and two years ago rejected a proposal to ordain deacons. The Lutheran Church has yet to come to a consensus on what the diaconate represents.

Wantland, whose diocese is dwarfed by the Lutheran presence in northern Wisconsin, also said the Concordat understands the terms "installation" and "consecration" of a bishop to mean the same thing, but that they are in fact different in the Episcopal Church.

His concern, he added, is shared by his Lutheran counterparts in Wisconsin who feel the two churches must first reach consensus over the ordination of bishops and the sacramental ordination of deacons before there can be full communion. "Until there is consensus," he said "we are acting prematurely."

Bishop Arthur Vogel, retired bishop of the Diocese of West Missouri, questioned the language of the Concordat resolution, particularly the resolution's statement that the Episcopal Church accepts the agreement "as a matter of verbal content." He argued for substituting "verbal expression." 

Bishop Mark Dyer, retired bishop of Bethlehem (Pa.), noted the phrase "verbal content" was intended to mean simply that neither side would amend the words of the proposed agreement, either adopting it or rejecting it in the form which had been agreed to by representatives of both churches. 

"Live into differences with charity"

Opponents were a distinct minority. The tone of the debate was set by Bishop Edward Jones of the Diocese of Indianapolis, co-chair of the Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee, who said he was reluctant to change anything "unless there is very substantial reason to do so." To do so would put the agreement "at some risk," he said.

Siding with the supporters was Bishop Peter Lee of the Diocese of Virginia, who appealed to the bishops to adopt the resolution as presented and "live into the differences in a spirit of charity and exploration based on that common apostolic faith." 

The agreement, he said, constituted "perhaps the most significant action" taken by the House of Bishops in its history.

Another strong supporter was Bishop Rusty Kimsey of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon, whose rural diocese has moved into cooperative ministries with local Lutheran synods. 

"I have a fire in my belly about this issue," Kimsey said. "Moving into full communion will mean profound changes for both churches, but they will be for the good of each."

When Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning ruled that the resolution had been adopted, an elated Bishop Edward Lee responded by pumping his fist in the air. 

--The Rev. Walt Gordon is a writer, editor, and consultant based in Minneapolis. David Skidmore and Ed Stannard contributed to this report.