wfn.org | Lutheran Theologians "Square Off" on Reformed Proposals

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1997

LUTHERAN THEOLOGIANS "SQUARE OFF" ON
REFORMED PROPOSALS
97-CA-13-CA

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Two prominent Lutheran theologians squared off
Aug. 16 on the subject of relations between Lutheran and Reformed churches.
     The exchange between the Rev. William H. Lazareth, former bishop of
the Metro New York Synod and the Rev. Timothy Lull, president of Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., opened a discussion at
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly here, faced
with a proposal to declare full communion with three Reformed church
bodies.
     Lazareth, a former director of the World Council of Churches
department of faith and order, and a long-time participant in the
Lutheran-Reformed dialogues, said the proposal was greviously flawed in
several areas.
     Then the Lutheran theologian honed in on his concerns about the
United Church of Christ, one of the denominations involved in the talks.
According to Lazareth, the UCC, according to its own documents, is
"constitutionally a non-creedal, non confessional" church with gives local
congregations "doctrinal autonomy."
     Lazareth questioned whether the UCC's national organization had any
authority over the doctrines and practices of local congregations.  This
means, Lazareth said, that Lutherans may have no way of knowing what the
people they are declaring fellowship with actually believe.
     The former Lutheran bishop said he favored "eucharistic hospitality,"
that is, the sharing of holy communion between Lutherans and the
Presbyterian Church USA, and the Reformed Church in America.  But to move
to "full communion," with all three church bodies, a move which includes
the possibility of sharing pastors and uniting congregations, brings with
it threats to Lutheran doctrine and practice, Lazareth concluded.
     In a sharp response,  Lull suggested that Lazareth's position put the
former ELCA bishop in the role of the legalistic pharisee in the biblical
parable who thanked God that "he was not like other men," but one who was
righteous in all his deeds.
     Lull said, "A confessional church is also one which confesses its
sins, confesses that it is not God but in need of forgiveness." He said, "I
approach these ecumenical decisions in a way which precludes looking at
others to see how well they measure up to the perfect standard, which is
us."
     Praising the results of the dialogue, Lull said "who could ask for
anything more? Some do, even at this assembly. Some suggest the scriptural
basis is not up to our standard. Some want a more detailed discussion of
'bodily eating and drinking in the (Lord's) supper.' Some want the Reformed
to prove that they 'really believe' what they say."
     "Lutherans can go on and on," he continued, "like the Energizer
bunny."
But, he concluded "on behalf of our Reformed partners, it is now time to
decide whether this is enough."
     Lull said the proposal was based on a "fine and thorough set of
theological dialogues," and said that the churches would "benefit from a
relationship of mutual affirmation and admonition."
     Finally, Lull argued that the proposal "fits well with our current
practice at the local and synodical level."
     "I do not see this formula as some alien scheme being imposed from on
high, but as a ratification and extension of what has bubbled up from local
ecumenism," he concluded.
     Referring to the UCC, the denomination cited by Lazareth, Lull said
"to be sure, the UCC is not our twin, and on some matters does things quite
differently that we do. But I do not find these Lutheran worries sufficient
grounds to reject this well-designed proposal in the hope that something
more to our liking might be found on the far side of its defeat here." Lull
said this would amount to the "rearrangement of the parties to this
agreement at the point of a Lutheran gun."
     Discussion following the presentation by the two theologians, as the
1,040 voting members of the ELCA continued the consideration of the
proposal in a manner that reflected some of the concerns expressed by
Lazareth, though few seemed eager to dump the plan.
     Carole Silvoy of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod said, "another
person's denominational expression fits their relationship with God." "This
does not diminish me. What diminishes us is division as Christians," she
continued.
     Bishop Paull Spring of the ELCA's Northwest Pennsylvania Synod, who
had written an article opposing the proposal for fellowship with the
Reformed churches, took the microphone to say that he had changed his mind.
But he wondered whether the plan could be connected with the positions
taken in the "Leuenberg Agreement," a European concord between Lutheran and
Reformed churches.
     Krestie Utech of the the Upper New York Synod, suggested that
differences among Lutherans might be as great as differences between
Lutherans and Reformed Christians, even on the precise issues cited by
Lazareth.
     The assembly is expected to take a final vote on the proposal on
Monday.  A two-thirds majority is needed for approval.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html