wfn.org | Episcopal convention could make ecumenical history

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For more information contact:
James Solheim
jsolheim@dfms.org
212/922-5385
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens

2000-102

Convention could make ecumenical history by adopting full 
communion with Lutherans

by James Solheim

     (ENS) It has been a long and occasionally rocky road, 
but the General Convention could make ecumenical history by 
adopting a proposal for full communion with the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at its Denver meeting in 
July.

     A series of official dialogues stretching back a 
generation produced a Concordat of Agreement in 1991 and, 
after years of study, the Episcopal Church overwhelmingly 
adopted the proposal at its 1997 convention in 
Philadelphia. But the ELCA Churchwide Assembly fell six 
votes short of the required two-thirds vote at its own 
meeting a few weeks later.

     The Lutherans, with participation by a team of 
Episcopalians, wrote a new proposal, "Called to Common 
Mission (CCM)," which was narrowly approved by the 
Churchwide Assembly last year after some stiff opposition 
from those who opposed a provision that the ELCA adopt the 
historic episcopate and that only bishops ordain its 
clergy. Opponents argued that such a move contradicted 
Lutheran tradition, and would alter its doctrine of 
ministry--and they organized in an attempt to revise or 
scuttle the agreement.

     A closed meeting in Milwaukee in mid-February shaped 
proposals participants hoped would keep the church 
together. It passed a resolution asking the church to give 
equal standing to clergy not ordained by bishops in 
historic succession and it even opened the possibility of a 
new synod that "may be out of conformity with certain 
provisions of the full communion agreements." 

ELCA takes firm stand

     In March the ELCA bishops issued a pastoral letter 
underscoring support for CCM but asking the ELCA Church 
Council to explore possible ways to allow a synodical 
bishop, in unusual circumstances and with appropriate 
consultation, to authorize another pastor to preside at an 
ordination. ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson 
assured Episcopalians that no unilateral action would be 
taken to undermine the agreement.

     Bishop Rick Foss of the Synod of North Dakota had 
warned of the possibility of "non-compliance" and the 
synod's March convention overwhelmingly approved a 
resolution that "supports the right of its constituent 
members, congregations, pastors and bishops to freely 
accept or reject local implementation" of the historic 
episcopate.

     Faced with what could turn into a brush fire among 
other synods, the ELCA Church Council took a firm stance, 
reminding synods that they do not make church policy, 
especially when those attempts violate the governing 
documents of the church. And the council said that, pending 
approval of CCM at the General Convention, there would be 
an "opportunity to examine jointly ways to practice the 
commitments of full community," including the touchy issue 
of someone other than a bishop ordaining Lutheran clergy.

     While professors at several ELCA seminaries reaffirmed 
their support for CCM, some also urged some "latitude" in 
its implementation. Others warned that "planned exceptions" 
on ordinations by bishops would undermine full communion. 
"We have watched with great concern and sadness the bitter 
controversy that has continued in our church," said the 
faculty of Lutheran Southern Seminary in South Carolina. 
"In the midst of this controversy, we believe that it is 
necessary to maintain the constitutional order of the 
church," they said.

Episcopal bishops clarify hopes for CCM

     The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church issued a 
"mind of the house resolution" at its California meeting in 
early April clarifying its understanding of CCM, especially 
the ELCA intention to adhere to the provision about 
ordinations. Yet it pointed out that clergy ordained by 
someone other a bishop would not be eligible for 
interchangeability in the Episcopal Church.

     Bishop Chris Epting of Iowa, a member of the original 
drafting team for the Concordat, said it was important for 
the bishops to clarify their hopes for CCM in the face of 
possible non-compliance by some Lutherans. "It's messier 
than we had hoped for," he reported to the bishops, but he 
predicted CCM would be accepted. 

     The Rev. David Perry, deputy for ecumenical relations 
in the Episcopal Church, has watched the Lutherans wrestle 
with well-organized opposition but is convinced that "there 
is no sign that the Lutherans will abandon their decision." 
And he thinks that there is "genuine excitement" with the 
new possibilities for mission that CCM envisions. But he 
thinks that it will be necessary to develop some new skills 
at partnership and mutual accountability as the levels of 
cooperation increase.

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's 
Office of News and Information.