wfn.org | Lutherans grant first exception to policy

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2002-173

Lutherans grant first exception to
policy requiring ordination of clergy
by bishops

by James Solheim

(ENS) A bishop in the Northwest Washington Synod of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has
granted the first exception to a policy that only bishops
ordain clergy, a key component of the "full communion"
agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Chris Boerger of Seattle granted the exemption to
Daniel D. Shaw, who graduated recently from Luther
Seminary in St. Paul and will be ordained by the Rev.
Richard Foege, pastor of the Tacoma congregation
where Shaw was baptized and confirmed. Boerger will
attend the ordination "but as a pastor of the ELCA, not as
a participant in the service." 

The ELCA's Churchwide Assembly adopted a by-law
amendment on ordination in 2001, allowing a synodical
bishop in "unusual circumstances" to authorize another
pastor of the church to preside at an ordination. Called to
Common Mission, the full communion agreement
between the two churches, directs that "a bishop shall
regularly preside and participate in the laying-on-of-hands
at the ordination of all clergy." 

At the time, Lutheran Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
said that the by-law meant that the church "recognized the
desire for unity within the ELCA without diminishing our
commitment to full communion." He added, "I trust this
ordination will be a significant healing step for those in the
ELCA who continue to express theological opposition" to
some provisions of CCM, "even as we build upon the
new opportunities for shared mission with out full
communion partners." 

The ELCA is also in full communion with three churches
of the Reformed tradition--the Presbyterian Church
(USA), the Reformed Church of America, and the United
Church of Christ. 

As required by the by-law, Boerger consulted his
synodical council, the presiding bishop, several pastors in
his synod and Bishop Vincent Warner of the Episcopal
Diocese of Olympia. Hanson said that Boerger had
exercised "thoughtful and pastoral leadership in granting
this request," as well as "respect for the conscience of the
applicant and the effective ministering of the calling
congregation, without diminishing his strong ecumenical
leadership." 

"Bishop Boerger was forthright and honest from the
outset," said Shaw, who will serve a parish in Kent,
Washington, that has also expressed opposition to the
ordination requirements in CCM. He said that ordination
by a bishop is a human tradition and "human traditions do
not constitute or make the church. Rather, the church is a
creature of the Word and sustained by that Word only."
To make ordination by a bishop a requirement "is simply
to abrogate the Word from its rightful place, which is the
center." 

Reaction to the by-law on exceptions was not enthusiastic
among Episcopalians. Presiding Bishop Frank T.
Griswold said that he would watch and see how often the
by-law was invoked, but he admitted that the ELCA's
decision could complicate implementation of the full
communion agreement. At its spring 2000 meeting in
Lake Arrowhead, California, the House of Bishops
pointed out that Lutheran clergy ordained by someone
other than a bishop would not be interchangeable in
Episcopal parishes. 

Bishop Christopher Epting, the church's deputy for
ecumenical and interfaith relations, said that many
Episcopalians would be "deeply saddened by this action,"
regarding it as "a unilateral change in an ecumenical
agreement that has serious implications." He also said that
"if such exceptions became frequent, the General
Convention will want to review whether or not we really
are in full communion with the ELCA." 

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News
Service. This article is based on an ELCA release
by Frank Imhoff.