wfn.org | Episcopal Commission Assesses Lutheran Ordination Exceptions

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 1, 2001

EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ASSESSES LUTHERAN ORDINATION EXCEPTIONS
01-276-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations
(SCER) of The Episcopal Church, USA, offered its assessment that a bylaw
adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), allowing
exceptions to the way the two churches agreed to ordain new clergy,
"need not impair" the new full-communion relationship of the two
churches.  The SCER met Oct. 23-27 here at the Lutheran Center, which
houses the churchwide offices of the ELCA.
     The Lutheran-Episcopal agreement, "Called to Common Mission
(CCM)," went into effect this year.  CCM defines the conditions of "full
communion" between the two churches.
     "While any provision for exceptions to CCM is a matter of serious
concern, the passage of the bylaw addressing ordination in unusual
circumstances need not impair or hinder our relationship of full
communion with the ELCA," said the commission in a two-page document
outlining the context for its evaluation and a summary of its reasoning.
     In a relationship of full communion, it is possible for clergy
from one church body to serve congregations of the other church body.
The Episcopal Church requires ordination of its clergy by bishops in the
historic episcopate -- a succession of bishops back to the earliest days
of the Christian Church.  One condition of CCM is that the Episcopal
Church will waive that requirement of Lutherans already ordained on Jan.
1, 2001.
     Another condition of CCM is that the ordinations of new ELCA
clergy after Jan. 1 would require the participation of a Lutheran
bishop.  The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
     In August the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a bylaw change
that will allow pastors, after approval by their synod bishops and in
consultation with the presiding bishop, to ordain new ELCA pastors in
"unusual circumstances."  The bylaw was seen by some as an attempt to
meet criticism that the agreement increased the power of Lutheran
bishops and threatened Lutheran identity.
     "This appears to be a unilateral alteration of the mutual
commitment that both our churches have solemnly made to enter into full
communion based on CCM,"  said Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold III of
the Episcopal Church, in a written statement, after the vote.
     "Obviously, it is too early to tell how frequently the ordination
in 'unusual circumstances' will occur, or what the Episcopal Church's
likely response will be.  Only our General Convention can speak
officially on that," said Griswold.  The next General Convention of the
Episcopal Church will be held in 2003 in Minneapolis.
     "We continue to be deeply concerned about how the bylaw may be
used," said the Episcopal commission.  "We have received strong and
frequent assurances from the ELCA that the provisions in the bylaw will
effectively restrict to the rarest and most serious of circumstances
exceptions to a bishop's participation in the laying-on-of-hands at the
ordination of a member of the clergy," it said.
     "Our own General Convention has stated officially that those
ordained in unusual circumstances will not serve congregations in the
Episcopal Church," said the SCER.
     The SCER couched its assessment in the biblical plea of St. Paul
to the early Christian church in Ephesus: "I therefore, the prisoner in
the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have
been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing
with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace."
     "The teaching of Scripture, the Episcopal Church's deep commitment
to the unity for which Christ prayed, and the realities and possibilities 
of full communion constitute the context in which the ELCA's provisions 
for ordination in unusual circumstances must be assessed," said the SCER statement.
     "Both churches have always acknowledged that full communion is
something that must be lived into," the SCER said.  It said the ELCA
bylaw could be seen as a Lutheran attempt to foster and preserve unity
with the Episcopal Church, while "preserving and increasing unity within
the ELCA."
     When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the bylaw, it also
adopted a resolution asking the ELCA presiding bishop to "engage in
continuing consultation with the presiding bishop and other
representatives of the Episcopal Church," to affirm the dedication of
the ELCA to live fully into CCM.
     The SCER noted that action and said "the ELCA has reaffirmed its
commitment to the historic episcopate."  That commitment was illustrated
when the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, was
installed Oct. 6 in a ceremony CCM described, said the committee.
     The advisory committee of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical
Affairs met here Oct. 27 and received a report on the SCER's assessment.
The advisors passed a resolution expressing their "thanks and
appreciation to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations of the 
Episcopal Church for their gracious understanding and thoughtful 
commentary on their analysis of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's bylaw actions with regard to full communion.
     "Further, we appreciate the fellowship, worship and work of joint
meeting opportunities experienced over our October meeting dates in
Chicago.  We look forward to continuing growth in relationship," said
the ELCA advisory committee.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html