wfn.org | Three Lutheran Seminary Presidents Welcome Full Communion

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 2, 1999

THREE LUTHERAN SEMINARY PRESIDENTS WELCOME FULL COMMUNION
99-216-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Presidents of three of the eight seminaries of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) issued a statement
Aug. 19 committing themselves to a decision the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
made that day to enter into full communion with The Episcopal Church.
The assembly met Aug. 16-22 in Denver.
     "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has decided to enter
into full communion with the Episcopal Church USA.  We commit our
leadership to the reception and implementation of that decision in our
church and seminaries," began the statement from the Rev. James Kenneth
Echols, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; the Rev. Timothy F.
Lull, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif.; and the
Rev. David L. Tiede, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
     "Our three seminaries have freely engaged in reflection,
deliberation, debate and prayer as our church has prepared for this
decision.  Our faculties have not adopted statements, although we have
noted statements from other ELCA faculties with respect," said the three
presidents.
     In advance of the assembly, faculties of the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa.; Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Philadelphia; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.;
Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; and Wartburg Theological
Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, issued statements of support for full communion
with the Episcopal Church.  Some of the statements raised matters for
the assembly to consider before voting.
     The churchwide assembly approved the Lutheran proposal for full
communion, "Called to Common Mission."  The measure needed 66.7 percent
approval and received 69.3 percent.  The Episcopal Church's General
Convention will vote on the proposal next July in Denver.
     Another plan, to enter into full communion with the Moravian
Church in America, received 98.9 percent approval of the ELCA Churchwide
Assembly.  The Moravian Church's Northern and Southern Provinces
approved the proposal, "Following Our Shepherd to Full Communion," in
separate votes in 1998.
     "We affirm the approval of the recommendation for full communion
with the Moravian Church.  We treasure the history of faith and service
our churches share," said Echols, Lull and Tiede.
     "We are hopeful that these two agreements will strengthen the full
communion we enjoy with the Reformed Church in America, the United
Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)," they said.  In
1997 the ELCA entered into full communion with the three churches of the
Reformed tradition.
     "We believe our churches are truly 'Called to Common Mission' in a
nation and world of many cultures and religions.  The pastoral and
theological work of our churches must be continued, now in a spirit of
mutual affirmation and admonition," said the three seminary presidents.
     "These agreements mark an end of long processes of negotiation.
More significantly, they signal the beginning of a new era of
collaboration and hope for God's work among us.  Our seminaries look
forward to active participation in that next step in the life of our
church," they said.

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