wfn.org | Opposition to Lutheran-Episcopal proposal organizing

[Daphne Mack <dmack@dfms.org>]

99-024
Opposition to Lutheran-Episcopal proposal organizing

by Frank Imhoff
(ELCA) While expressing support for a relationship of "full 
communion" between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
(ELCA) and The Episcopal Church, almost 200 Lutherans gathered 
here at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, and 
resolved that the current Lutheran proposal, "Called to Common 
Mission," is not the way to accomplish it.

Speakers addressed the audience before participants shared 
their views and drafted and approved a sample resolution for ELCA 
congregations and synod assemblies to send to the Churchwide 
Assembly next August in Denver. The February 8-9 conference also 
began developing a strategy to educate Lutherans on the content of 
"Called to Common Mission" (CCM) and reasons for opposing it.

The sample resolution asks "that the 1999 Churchwide 
Assembly reject the document `Called to Common Mission,'" while 
reaffirming the Lutheran "commitment to continue to work together 
with our Episcopal neighbors in common faith and mission, 
gathering at the Lord's Table and sharing in each other's 
ministry."

The resolution continued, "We acknowledge the ordination of 
Episcopal clergy, and welcome them to serve in ELCA parishes or 
pastoral positions, preaching and teaching in a manner that is 
consistent with the ELCA's `Confession of Faith.'"

The Rev. Roger C. Eigenfeld, pastor of St. Andrew's, opened 
the conference, "Upholding Lutheran Confessions," by saying the 
ELCA has been flooded with speeches and materials about why CCM 
should be approved, but the purpose of the conference was to 
express opposite viewpoints.  "You will not hear both sides of 
the issue here," he said.

A round of Lutheran-Episcopal dialogues that began in 1983 
developed a proposal for full communion between the two churches, 
"The Concordat of Agreement," and issued it in 1991.  During that 
period, the American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran Church 
in America (LCA) merged with the Association of Evangelical 
Lutheran Churches to form the ELCA.

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church 
overwhelmingly approved the Concordat in 1997.  The ELCA assembly 
that year defeated the proposal by six votes and asked that the 
Concordat be revised, taking the assembly's debate into account 
and clarifying the technical language of the dialogue.

Why historic episcopate?
"I am disappointed-first with the Concordat and now with 
the revision-that they make it necessary for us to adopt the 
historic episcopate," said the Rev. Robert J. Marshall of 
Chicago, former LCA president.

Lutherans and Episcopalians agree on the doctrine of 
"apostolic succession," an ongoing faithful proclamation of 
Christ; Episcopalians bring to the relationship the "historic 
episcopate," a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to 
the earliest days of the Christian church.

Marshall asked the conference if the historic episcopate is 
"not only essential but good and useful for the church," and he 
supplied his answer: "No."

"I am not in favor of the Concordat in its present form 
because it is not the best for ecumenism," said Marshall.  "One 
church would have to become like the other."

Marshall said the full communion agreement the ELCA has with 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and 
United Church of Christ is "the model for future full communion 
agreements."  It allows for recognition of each others' 
ministries without the need to change structures or understandings 
of ministry, he said.

"The Episcopal refusal to accept us `as we are' is at the 
center of our disagreement," said the Rev. David W. Preus of 
Minneapolis, former ALC presiding bishop.  The historic episcopate 
is not bad, he said, but Lutherans would not be considering it if 
it were not being required for full communion.

Preus said the Reformation of the Western Church in the 
16th century was needed because the church was placing itself 
between God and "the priesthood of all believers."  Saying word 
and sacrament ministry can only be done by those ordained by 
certain bishops would limit the mission and ministry of the 
church, not enhance it, he said.  "God is not tied to any 
particular priesthood."

Incorporating the historic episcopate would hinder the 
ELCA's ecumenical relationships with churches other than the 
Episcopal Church, Preus said.

An issue of ministry and mission
"I affirm the closest possible relationships with our 
Episcopal brothers and sisters within the bounds of our 
integrity," said the Rev.  Lowell O. Erdahl of Roseville, 
Minnesota, former bishop of the ALC's Southeastern Minnesota 
District and the ELCA's Saint Paul Area Synod.

"My problem with the Concordat and its current revision is 
not that it is too ecumenical but that it is not ecumenical 
enough," said Erdahl.  He called requiring the historic 
episcopate for full communion "an insult to the unity that we 
have in Jesus Christ." Erdahl said Lutherans are considering the 
historic episcopate only "to be nice ... to go along to get 
along."

"Always keep in mind that this is not an ecumenical issue 
but a ministry and mission issue," said the Rev. Michael Rogness, 
professor of homiletics at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.  
While full communion and the mission of the church are often given 
as reasons for supporting CCM, he said those who oppose the 
proposal also favor full communion and mission.

"It is dishonest for us to say the historic episcopate will 
not change our theology or the way we do things," said Rogness.  
"Called to Common Mission proposes a fundamentally different 
ministry than what the Augsburg Confession intends."  The 
Augsburg Confession is a 16th century summary of Lutheran 
doctrine which the ELCA accepts as "a true witness to the 
gospel."

On the conference's strategy, Rogness suggested participants 
focus on communicating with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly through 
resolutions from synod assemblies this spring.

"Called to Common Mission is the wrong way to the right 
thing," said the Rev. Mark A. Granquist, assistant professor of 
religion at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.  "We are 
not against declaring our Christian unity with other churches," 
he said.  "We are not against the Episcopal Church."
"Jesus Christ declares that the Holy Spirit has already 
made us one ... united with other Christians," said Granquist.  
"Ecumenism is recognizing the unity that already exists." He 
called the historic episcopate "a failed paradigm," arguing that 
"it has not worked for the Episcopal Church, and it won't work 
for us."

A political strategy
Those who oppose CCM have endured a lot of unfounded 
criticism, said the Rev. James M. Kittelson, professor of church 
history at Luther Seminary. "Just say no to this litany of shame 
and blame," he said.

"We are told that our own lack of the historic episcopate 
is an accident of history," said Kittelson.  The historic 
episcopate of the Anglican Communion that U.S. Lutherans are being 
asked to adopt is an accident of 16th century European politics, 
he said, "a pious fraud at best." He said that other churches 
that have the historic episcopate, such as the Roman Catholic and 
Orthodox churches, do not recognize the Anglican historic 
episcopate.

The Rev. Marc Kolden, academic dean at Luther Seminary, 
discussed the strategy the group might take toward getting its 
message before ELCA members, especially the ELCA Churchwide 
Assembly. He advised the group to have a substitute motion ready 
if CCM fails to win a two-thirds majority at the Churchwide 
Assembly.  The substitute "would serve notice that Called to 
Common Mission is in such trouble that it is a lose-lose 
proposition," he said, and it could allow the assembly to vote 
against CCM without voting against the Episcopal Church.
Kolden urged conference participants to talk with others in 
their congregations.  Lay people understand that ministry in the 
21st century will require more flexibility not less, he said.

--Frank Imhoff is associate director of news and information for 
the ELCA.