wfn.org | Lutherans will consider by-law that would allow exceptions to ordination policy

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2001-79

Lutherans will consider by-law that would allow exceptions to ordination policy

by James Solheim
jsolheim@episcopalchurch.org

     (ENS) This summer's Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
(ELCA) will consider a proposed by-law granting exceptions to one of the key proposals of 
its full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church--raising fears that it could 
complicate implementation of the agreement and strengthen the hand of opponents.

     Under the provisions of the agreement, "Called to Common Mission," only bishops would 
ordain clergy, although the document anticipated "emergency" situations where that might 
not be possible. Only bishops ordain clergy in the Episcopal Church, but in the ELCA 
bishops have been allowed to delegate the responsibility to clergy.

     The by-law, "Ordination in Unusual Circumstances," would allow an ELCA synodical 
bishop to authorize, for pastoral reasons, another pastor to ordain after consultation with 
the synodical council and the presiding bishop. 

     Building on recent action by the church's Conference of Bishops, the ELCA Church 
Council voted at its April 6-8 meeting to send the by-law to the church's constitution that 
would allow for exceptions to the Churchwide Assembly.

     Strong resistance to CCM within the ELCA has centered on the role of bishops and 
agreement by the Lutherans to adopt the historic episcopate, a line of bishops going back 
to the early church which serves as a sign of unity and continuity. 

Compromised intentions?

     In a March 20 letter that ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson shared with the 
council, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold of the Episcopal Church expressed serious 
concerns about the proposed by-law and its implications for the full communion agreement, 
especially what some might interpret as "planned exceptions" to CCM's ordination 
procedures. 

     While recognizing the "pastoral concern" which prompted the proposed by-law, Griswold 
said that it seems to "compromise" the ELCA's intention "to enter the ministry of the 
historic episcopate," especially with regard to the provision that "a bishop shall 
regularly preside and participate in the laying-on-of-hands at the ordination of clergy."

     The by-law "seems to imply the certainty of planned exceptions," Griswold observed, 
and could also be interpreted as "a unilateral alteration of the mutual commitment that 
both our churches have solemnly made." It could also "create two classes of clergy" since 
Lutheran clergy ordained by someone other than a bishop would not be interchangeable in 
Episcopal parishes. Creating exceptions could also extend the debate over CCM, he said. 

     "Certainly none of us would want to see the 'full' communion we have recently achieved 
be reduced to something like 'partial' or 'limited' communion. Our church voted for CCM as 
it stands, we want CCM to work, and we believe that it can," the letter said.

     The Rev. Ellen Wondra of Bexley Hall Seminary in Rochester, New York, represented the 
Episcopal Church at the Church Council meeting and echoed Griswold's concerns, warning they 
are "very deep and very widespread."

Urging patience

     For many Church Council members the proposed by-law was the only way to answer 
criticism that CCM threatens Lutheran identity and gives too much authority to bishops. 
During the lively 90-minute discussion of the by-law, proponents rejected the implication 
that it would be interpreted as a sign that the ELCA is not prepared to live up to the 
agreement.

     "We have tried to take seriously our unity in the ELCA," said Bishop Donald McCoid of 
the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, chair of the ELCA's Conference of Bishops. "If you 
hear any message, it should be that this is not a 'backing away' from CCM. It's about how 
we can bring the ELCA together and seek unity within the church catholic."

     The Rev. Karen Soli of Sioux Falls, South Dakota said she hoped members of the 
Episcopal Church would be patient as the ELCA sorted out the issues. But she also noted 
that "some of us have had to swallow hard" at the practice of a few Episcopal bishops who 
refuse to ordain women. Lutherans have ordained women for over 30 years. "There are no 
perfect packages in the church," she said.

     "We believe this is the most appropriate and most helpful action to take at this 
time," said Dale Sandstrom of Bismarck, North Dakota. He presented the by-law to the 
council on behalf of the Legal and Constitutional Review Committee. The by-law could be 
changed at the Churchwide Assembly and it must pass by a two-thirds majority.

     Several participants in the discussion said that the by-law would reassure those who 
continue to oppose CCM that their concerns are taken seriously.

     At the Conference of Bishops meeting last month in Texas, many bishops said that they 
expected only a limited number of requests for exceptions under the proposed by-law.

Implementation policy

     The Church Council took a set of guidelines and adopted them as a policy on how the 
by-law would be implemented, specifying the principles that should be considered in 
responding to a request for an exception. An earlier proposal that the policy include a 
"sunset" provision, under which the by-law would expire in 2007, was removed during the 
review process.

     Some council members suggested that might be a mistake because removing the sunset 
clause "makes exceptions a part of the landscape," according to the Rev. Fred Opalinski of 
Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He also expressed a concern that Episcopalians not see this as a 
"bait and switch" maneuver by the ELCA.

     "This issue has been a divisive factor in our church and I feel this may heal the 
breach and be a step in the right direction," said Beverly Peterson of Billings, Montana.

--based on reports by John Brooks, director of the ELCA News Service. Copies of the by-law 
and policy adopted by the council are available at http://www.elca.org/os/churchcouncil/actions.html. 
Griswold's letter is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens/2001-79a.html