wfn.org | Lutheran-Episcopal agreement approved

[Daphne Mack <dmack@dfms.org>]

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James Solheim
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GC2000-096

Lutheran-Episcopal agreement approved by wide margin

by David Skidmore

     (ENS - DENVER) On a commanding vote in both houses, the 73rd 
General Convention approved the landmark agreement "Called to 
Common Mission" (CCM) between the 2.3 million member Episcopal 
Church and 5.2 million member ELCA. The accord sets out the 
conditions for the full interchange of clergy, and the sharing of 
ministry and sacraments. Since it was already adopted by a 27-
vote margin by the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly in August 1999, the 
vote means that CCM goes into effect January 1, 2001.

     The bishops, voting July 7, and the deputies voting on the 
following day, marked the historic occasions by breaking out in 
strained but earnest renditions of the Lutheran signature hymn, 
"A Mighty Fortress is Our God," once the results were announced. 

     Despite reservations over the Lutheran understanding of the 
three-fold ministry (deacons, priests and bishops) and warnings 
that the convention's adoption could stoke dissension within the 
ELCA, over two-thirds of the bishops and deputies voted for the 
agreement. Both houses also approved on second reading two 
enabling resolutions amending the Constitution and Canons. The 
changes, which remove constitutional barriers to Lutheran clergy 
serving in Episcopal congregations, provide for the temporary 
suspension of the preface to the ordinal in The Book of Common 
Prayer, and waive the requirement that all clergy serving in the 
church vow to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of 
the Episcopal Church. 

Full communion, not merger

     The historic agreement is a partnership, not a merger, 
pointed out ecumenical officers during the debate in the two 
houses. 

     Bishop Edward Lee (Western Michigan), chair of the bishops' 
committee on ecumenical relations, emphasized that the agreement 
is "not a blending, it is not a dilution."

     "What we are doing is an ecumenical breakthrough called full 
communion," said Lee. The time has ended "for simple talk, or 
dialogue or conversation," he said. For 30 years the Episcopal 
Church and the ELCA and its predecessor churches have labored to 
fulfill the gospel mandate to be one.

     "It is not a marriage or a merger of our two churches," the 
Very Rev. Donald Brown, chair of the Committee on Ecumenical 
Relations, advised during the deputies' debate. "Each church will 
retain its own liturgical, theological, and organizational 
uniqueness and integrity."

     Though some quibbled over variations in language between CCM 
and its predecessor, the 1997 Concordat of Agreement, the 
sentiment in both houses was that the agreement represented a 
turning point in ecumenical relations. 

     "This is an historical ecumenical moment for us and an 
historical ecumenical decision," said Bishop Christopher Epting 
(Iowa), a member of the drafting team for both documents. The 
historic episcopate now promises to be a common sign of the 
apostolic connection for both churches, he said.

     Bishop William Swing (California) noted that the Episcopal 
Church has promoted itself for years as the via media, or bridge 
church, of the Christian faith.

     "I think we are in a crossroads where this is either a 
drawbridge or it is the Golden Gate Bridge," said Swing, 
referring to the San Francisco landmark. "Being from California, 
I am for the Golden Gate Bridge."

     The practical aspects of the agreement, particularly joint 
church planting efforts, were cited by several bishops. In 
Florida, said Bishop Stephen Jecko, there is a need for 17 new 
congregations. "Cash is all I lack," he said. This agreement will 
allow him to forge a partnership with the local ELCA bishop.

     In Iowa, Epting noted he has developed a close partnership 
with the bishops in the three ELCA synods, allowing such joint 
ministries as a college chaplaincy at the University of Iowa. 
Despite these cooperative ventures, Epting felt the two churches 
had been "stymied" in the opportunity for new church starts or 
cooperative ministry because many of their congregations could 
not afford full-time clergy.

Three-fold ordained ministry is clarified

     Like the 1997 Concordat, CCM recognizes that both the 
Lutheran Augsburg Confession and The Book of Common Prayer 
contain "the essentials of the one catholic and apostolic faith," 
a common understanding of baptism, Eucharist and the authority of 
Scripture; and a full acknowledgment of the authenticity of each 
church's ordained clergy.

     The major difference between the two is simplification of 
language in CCM, a Lutheran rewrite of the Concordat, and a 
clarification of the Lutheran understanding of ministry. The ELCA 
ordains pastors and installs bishops in a single order of 
ministry, but does not yet have deacons. Though not required to 
ordain deacons under the CCM, the ELCA agrees to continue 
exploring that question. The Lutherans also agreed to have 
bishops present at all future installations who are part of the 
historic episcopate.

     Under the agreement the ELCA agrees that a bishop will 
preside at ordinations of all clergy, although it holds open the 
possibility that, in emergency situations, that might not always 
be possible. Episcopal bishops have made it clear that Lutheran 
clergy ordained by someone other than a bishop in the historic 
episcopate could not preside at Episcopal Eucharists.

     Still, the change sparked concerns in some bishops. Retired 
Bishop Donald Parsons (Quincy) said that allowing for exceptions, 
CCM "leaves the way open for ordination of clergy not done by 
those who are bishops." Parsons said he was also troubled by 
another provision that allows the ELCA to license lay persons to 
administer baptism and holy communion "in unusual circumstances." 

A grand panorama of mission

     The agreement stands as "a very significant sign to the 
ecumenical community that our two churches can live in communion 
with one another for the sake of a greater unity in the service 
of a common mission," said Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold 
following the deputies' vote July 8. 

     The Rev. Lowell Almen, secretary of the ELCA, said, "We have 
walked into the bright sunlight of the future. A grand panorama 
of mission stretches before us."

     At a press conference following the vote, Epting stressed 
that the accord is a partnership, not a merger. Both churches, 
while able to share clergy and ministries, will remain 
autonomous. 

     "I think we've moved in the ecumenical movement generally 
from a concept of one giant 'superchurch' to what we now call a 
'communion of communions," said Epting. "The great coming church 
of the future will always have its own uniqueness. There will be 
different ways in which individual communions will exercise their 
worship and their common life. But we really are one church in 
the larger sense of that word." 

     The decision has worldwide implications, according to the 
Rev. Daniel Martensen, director of the ELCA's ecumenical office. 
"I'm thoroughly convinced that the Anglican Consultative Council 
and the Lutheran World Federation and other Christian world 
communions will be watching very closely to see how it unfolds 
here in North America," he said. 

A gift to the wider church

     That sentiment was echoed by Bishop H. George Anderson, the 
ELCA's presiding bishop, at the July 12 Eucharist at convention 
in which he joined Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in a an 
exchange of chalices sealing the accord. 

     Speaking just before the exchange, Anderson said the CCM 
will be an avenue for the churches to reach a fuller 
understanding of each other. "As we grow into that friendship, 
God will continue to show us new possibilities," he said. The 
full communion agreement is also a gift to the rest of the 
Christian community, one which reinforces hope for 
"reconciliation and mutuality," he said.

     The exchange of chalices--a crystal chalice from the 
Episcopal Church and an earthenware chalice from the ELCA--
followed a homily by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, in which 
he called the agreement "an invitation to open our borders." The 
agreement on full communion would deepen an already close 
relationship, he added. 

     Both churches, noted Griswold, have had "to face the anxiety 
of what may be lost" in the movement toward full communion. Only 
time and the commitment of the churches' members, he said, will 
determine how the life and witness of the two churches will be 
transformed by the agreement.

Each church to order its own ministry

     In a press conference following the service, Anderson was 
asked about the opportunities for joint ministry and the impact 
that Lutheran dissenters, who are opposed to the historic 
episcopate, would have on the agreement. Anderson downplayed the 
dissent, which is centered in the Upper Midwest. He said he had 
been surprised at how many ELCA synods that once opposed the 
agreement now support it. Their opposition, he added, was based 
not so much on the idea of full communion but on how it might be 
implemented in ways that would preserve church unity.

     As for the General Convention's recognition of couples 
living in committed relationships other than marriage, Anderson 
noted that the ELCA was already in communion with the United 
Church of Christ, which has policies on the ordination of 
homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions that are at odds 
with the ELCA's policies. 

     "We feel we can learn from the experience of these other 
bodies as we can learn from the experience of the Episcopal 
Church," he said. "But each of us continues to have the 
responsibility for ordering the ministry and activities within 
our own traditions."

     Griswold, who joined Anderson for the press conference, said 
the agreement would be inaugurated at a Eucharist at Washington 
National Cathedral on Jan. 6, 2001, the Feast of Epiphany. 

In other actions on ecumenical relations, the General Convention:

     *declared that "Called to Common Mission" has been correctly 
interpreted by the "Mind of the House" resolution adopted by the 
House of Bishops on April 3, 2000 (B046);

          *authorized a bilateral dialogue with the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) (A039);

          *temporarily suspended the restriction that no persons 
are allowed to exercise the office of Bishops, Priest, or Deacon 
unless they have received ordination by the laying on of hands by 
Bishops duly qualified. This was with regard to the affirmation 
of full communion with Lutherans (A041);

          *committed the church to a process of engagement and 
dialogue beginning in 2002 with Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) 
(A135);

          *affirmed Lambeth Conference recommendations that the 
World Council of Churches explore ways that would make possible 
full membership for the Roman Catholic Church (D053);

          *asked the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations 
to research and recommend ways conversations could be initiated 
in the U.S. with Pentecostal Churches (D051);

          *encouraged the Standing Commission on Ecumenical 
Relations and the Presiding Bishop to initiate a dialog with 
group calling themselves "Continuing Anglican Churches" (D047);

          *renewed the request of the 72nd General Convention 
that the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations be in 
conversation with the National Association of Evangelicals on 
matters of theology and ethics (D105).

--David Skidmore is director of communication for the Diocese of 
Chicago.