Title: Lutheran, Reformed Prepare for Votes ELCA NEWS SERVICE February 26, 1997 LUTHERAN, REFORMED PREPARE FOR VOTES 97-06-014-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fourteen "theological agreements" will be presented to members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and three Reformed churches before they vote on entering into "full communion." A Lutheran-Reformed Coordinating Committee decided the points of "fundamental doctrinal consensus" reached in 1983 will be in the introduction to a resolution the four churches' assemblies consider this summer. The ELCA's New England Synod asked the committee for "preface materials or commentary that would include reference to some of the theological agreements and theological understandings that have grown out of earlier dialogues," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, assistant to the president for ecumenical concerns, United Church of Christ, Cleveland. Thomas is the Reformed co- chair of the committee. The nine Lutherans and 10 members from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ drafted the resolution last year that each of the four churches will vote on. Before the committee adjourned its "final anticipated meeting" here Feb. 2-4, it decided to add an introduction that cites fourteen points of "doctrine and practice" that a Lutheran-Reformed dialogue published in 1983 in "An Invitation to Action." The fourteen points include that both Lutheran and Reformed traditions "confess the Nicene and Apostles Creeds" and "ordain once to a ministry of Word and Sacrament, and the functions of such persons are identical." Each church will vote on the resolution to "adopt `A Formula of Agreement' on the basis of `A Common Calling' and declare that it is in full communion" with the other churches. Other resolves will make the agreement effective when all four churches pass the resolution and appoint a committee to coordinate its implementation. "A Common Calling" was the report of the Lutheran-Reformed Committee for Theological Conversations 1988-1992, ending with the recommendation that the four participating church bodies enter into full communion. The "Formula of Agreement" was issued in 1995 clarifying how to implement full communion. Under full communion the churches will not merge, but they will agree to such things as "a mutual recognition and availability of ordained ministers to the service of all members of churches in full communion, subject only but always to the disciplinary regulations of the other churches," and "a mutual lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches." "There was a very positive sense around the table of the mood and the spirit in each of the churches," Thomas said after the committee meeting. "Each of the churches has different dynamics, but we felt that there has been growth in support in all of the churches for the proposal for full communion." "We are recommending that the committee remain in place through the votes this summer and that the committee be available for any unforeseen questions or concerns that may come up," he said. "The committee is recommending that each church invite representatives from the other three" to be present for its vote. The Reformed Church in America will hold its General Synod in Milwaukee, June 14-20. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will hold its General Assembly in Syracuse, N.Y., June 14-21. The United Church of Christ will hold its General Synod in Columbus, Ohio, July 3-8. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will hold its Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia, Aug. 14-20. The committee is also recommending that heads of each church appoint an interim committee to anticipate positive votes for full communion. That committee could organize a "national service of celebration of full communion" and could clarify details around "the availability of clergy for service in each church," said Thomas. "The vote does not mean the end of people growing into an awareness of what full communion means," he added. "Voting delegates are clearly the focus right now, because they're the ones who have the responsibility to make a decision. Beyond that, it expands in various ways." For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html