wfn.org | Episcopalians Approve Full Communion With Lutherans

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

23-July-1997 
97285 
 
    Episcopalians Approve Full Communion With Lutherans 
 
    by Ecumenical News International 
 
PHILADELPHIA--In what has been described as an "ecumenical event without 
parallel," the Episcopal Church has given its backing to an agreement to 
establish full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
(ELCA). 
 
    The Concordat of Agreement was approved by an overwhelming majority of 
the two houses of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting 
in Philadelphia.  The concordat also needs the approval of the ELCA 
Churchwide Assembly, which meets in Philadelphia in late July and early 
August. 
 
    The concordat recognizes the authenticity of the ordained ministries of 
the two churches and, once the necessary legislation has been agreed, ELCA 
and Episcopal clergy will be authorized -- from 2001 -- to celebrate the 
sacraments and serve in each other's churches, according to the Episcopal 
News Service (ENS), based in New York. A final vote on the constitutional 
provisions will need the approval of the next Episcopal General Convention, 
to be held in three years in Denver. 
 
    The General Convention's House of Deputies -- clergy and laity -- 
approved the concordat on July 18, two days after it had received the 
overwhelming support of the House of Bishops. 
 
    William Rusch, former ELCA ecumenical officer, who played a key role in 
the concordat negotiations, said of the vote by the bishops: "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." 
 
    David Perry, the Episcopal Church's ecumenical officer, gave much of 
the credit for the success of the concordat so far to the Episcopal 
Church's presiding bishop, Edmond Browning, who retires after this General 
Convention.  "This is a wonderful celebration of his ministry," Perry said. 
 
    Under the provisions of the concordat, the Episcopal Church has agreed 
to suspend for an interim period its insistence that all bishops stand 
within the historic episcopate -- the continuity in the ordination of 
bishops from the early church through the Reformation to the present day. 
For its part, the ELCA will accept the eventual integration of their 
bishops into that historic episcopate. 
 
    After the concordat comes into force, both Episcopal and Lutheran 
bishops will participate in the ordination of bishops of  both churches, 
thus ensuring that all new bishops would belong to the historic episcopate. 
According to ENS, citing a survey of ELCA synods, approval by the ELCA is 
less certain. Of its 65 synods, 30 have taken positions favorable to the 
concordat and 15 have voted against it. The concordat needs a two-thirds 
majority by Assembly delegates -- who are not bound by synod resolutions -- 
for it to be approved by the ELCA. 

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