ELCA NEWS SERVICE
December 15, 2005
New Round in U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Opens
05-239-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Focusing on the theme, "The Hope for
Eternal Life," a new round of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic
Dialogue began here, 40 years after the first talks between the
two religious traditions began. More than 20 Lutheran and Roman
Catholic leaders and theologians participated in the first
meeting of Round XI at the Cenacle Conference and Retreat Center
here Dec. 1-4.
Co-chairing the dialogue in this round are the Rev. Lowell
G. Almen, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), and the Most Rev. Richard J. Sklba, auxiliary bishop of
the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
The topics the round addresses include Lutheran-Roman
Catholic differences over issues relating to the Christian's life
beyond death, including issues such as purgatory, indulgences,
and masses and prayers for the dead. Interest in dealing with
"The Hope for Eternal Life" was related to the signing of the
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) in
1999, Almen said. Questions in this round will address some
topics identified in the development and completion of the JDDJ,
he said.
The JDDJ was signed by leaders of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) and The Vatican in Augsburg, Germany, on Oct.
31, 1999. With the JDDJ the LWF and the Vatican agreed to a
basic understanding of the doctrine of justification and declared
that certain 16th century condemnations of each other no longer
apply.
During a May 2004 visit to the Vatican, Sklba said Cardinal
Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity, was interested in the question of church
authority but also "was eager to see a review of this issue of
eschatology" and whether issues dating back to the 16th century
could be seen in a "new light."
Dialogue leaders are also aware that leaders of the LWF and
the Vatican are talking about the possibility of joint events and
observances leading up to 2017, the 500th anniversary of Martin
Luther's posting of the 95 theses, which started the Protestant
Reformation. Also, the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II
document, "Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation," is in
2015. One idea that has been suggested is that there be
observances over a period of two years leading up to 2017, Almen
noted.
"Further work on these topics in relation to whatever plans
might emerge for 2017 for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran
Reformation all seemed very timely," Almen said.
The opening meeting included presentation of papers and
discussion on a variety of topics such as the Council of Trent,
Lutheran Confessions on the hope for eternal life, biblical
overviews, indulgences, and Lutheran and Roman Catholic funeral
rites.
"The particular round really does speak about those matters
that are so close to the way people live," said the Rev. Arthur
Kennedy, executive director, ecumenical and interreligious
affairs, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.
"One of the things that I think is most important about this
particular theme is that it's talking about being in the presence
of God," Kennedy said. The theme of the current round of
dialogue can give people "God's gift of hope," he said.
"This is hope not just for Lutherans and Catholics. This is
hope for other Christians, all working together," he said.
Sklba said a particular interest of his is to make sure "our
own Catholic practices do reflect the JDDJ." Almen agreed,
saying that it is an issue for both churches.
It may take years to complete discussions on the issues in
this round of dialogue, Sklba said. "I do think if it's going to
be substantial it will take some time," he said.
For Lutherans and Roman Catholics, especially in families
where there are members of both churches, the subject of the
dialogue is personal, Almen said.
"With varied religious backgrounds of people in the
household, the hope of greater mutual understanding is one that
touches their lives. For some, the differences are experienced in
personal ways Sunday after Sunday," he said. "They go to
separate places of worship, or when one goes with the other, they
are separated at the table (of Holy Communion)."
"No matter how intense our efforts, the journey is going to
be one that extends far beyond our lifetimes. In our lifetimes
we have an opportunity in some way to search for that future that
we believe is also the desire of God, namely the future of
reconciliation," Almen said.
The dialogue's desired goal is "pulpit and altar fellowship,
full communion," recognizing that the ELCA, Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod and Roman Catholic Church "have different criteria
for when it will be possible to recognize that goal as having
been achieved," according to a protocol for the participating
churches. The dialogue also builds on Round X of the U.S.
dialogue and the international dialogue, which has concluded
Round IV.
Round X of the U.S. dialogue concluded in April 2004, with
ELCA-Roman Catholic approval of "The Church as Koinonia of
Salvation: Its Structures and Ministries," a 69-page document.
In addition to leaders and theologians from the ELCA and
Roman Catholic Church, this round of dialogue includes two
participants from the LCMS. Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, executive
director, LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, St.
Louis, and Dr. Dean Wenthe, president of Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., were appointed by the Rev. Gerald B.
Kieschnick, LCMS president. The LCMS has had participants in
nine of the 10 previous rounds of the dialogue.
The next meeting is planned for April 20-23, 2006, in
Phoenix.
In addition to Almen, ELCA representatives to the dialogue
are:
+ The Rev. Theodore W. Asta, associate to the bishop, ELCA New
England Synod, Worcester, Mass.
+ The Rev. Stephen J. Hultgren, assistant professor, Department
of Theology, Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y.
+ The Rev. Randall R. Lee, executive director and assistant to
the bishop, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs, Chicago
+ Dr. Lois E. Malcolm, associate professor of systematic
theology, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
+ The Rev. Marcus J. Miller, bishop, ELCA Northeastern Ohio
Synod, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
+ The Rev. Winston D. Persaud, Wartburg Theological Seminary,
Dubuque, Iowa
+ The Rev. John H. P. Reumann, emeritus professor of New
Testament and Greek, Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Philadelphia
+ Dr. Michael J. Root, professor of systematic theology and dean,
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.
+ The Rev. Paul A. Schreck, associate for bilateral dialogues,
ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs, and executive
assistant, ELCA Office of the Secretary, Chicago
In addition to Kennedy and Sklba, Roman Catholic
representatives to the dialogue are:
+ The Rev. Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., Jesuit community, Georgetown
University, Washington, D.C.
+ Dr. Margaret O'Gara, faculty of theology, University of St.
Michael's College, Toronto
+ The Rev. George H. Tavard, A.A., emeritus professor of
theology, Brighton, Mass.
+ Dr. Christian David Washburn, lecturer, systematic theology,
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Drexel Hill, Pa.
+ The Rev. Jared Wicks, S.J., Jesuit community, John Carroll
University, University Heights, Ohio
+ Dr. Susan K. Wood, S.C.L., Department of Theology, Marquette
University, Milwaukee
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Information about the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue
is at http://tinyurl.com/baxgg on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
