Title: Ecumenical Proposals Test ELCA-LCMS Relationship
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 28, 1997
ECUMENICAL PROPOSALS TEST ELCA-LCMS RELATIONSHIP
97-15-045-DM*
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- An Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) vote this summer to declare "full communion" with
four Protestant church bodies would further strain relations with
The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, LCMS leaders told their ELCA
counterparts March 24.
ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson said, "We received
the impression that although they would be very disappointed in
our moving ahead with the ecumenical proposals, at the same time
they do cherish and would seek to maintain the common work we do
together."
Discussion of two ecumenical proposals was a major agenda
item when the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC) met in St.
Louis. The 12-member CLC has six members each from the ELCA and
LCMS, including Anderson and LCMS President A.L. Barry.
The ELCA's biennial Churchwide Assembly, which meets Aug.
14-20 in Philadelphia, will consider three ecumenical proposals.
The two discussed at the CLC meeting are that the ELCA enter into
full communion with The Episcopal Church and enter into full
communion with three Reformed churches -- the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
A third proposal, not discussed by the CLC, would declare certain
16th century condemnations of the Roman Catholic Church no longer
apply.
"Where would the LCMS see the ELCA regarding the apostolic
faith?" Anderson asked. "Do we teach it, or not? Are we in it,
or not?"
"Many in our fellowship would feel that if you adopt these
ecumenical proposals, you will have left your stance on the
Lutheran Confessions," Barry replied.
"We would not see ourselves as departing from the Lutheran
Confessions," ELCA Secretary the Rev. Lowell G. Almen responded.
"We see the proposals as reflecting our confessional
commitments," he added later.
Anderson told the committee, "Our people would not see this
as defining us as farther apart." He added that many in the ELCA
continue to pray for stronger ties with the LCMS. Barry, too,
had noted earlier in the meeting that many members of LCMS
congregations "have ties to the ELCA and a genuine love for the
ELCA."
Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, executive director of the LCMS
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, said that ELCA
adoption of the ecumenical proposals "will be received with a
great deal of sadness, but not as a great shock." He said
members "will see we do have some serious theological
disagreements." He added that it would make certain cases of
pastoral care more difficult -- such as when "snowbirds" from one
church body worship where they spend the winter with a
congregation of the other Lutheran body.
"It will be a significant point in terms of our
relationship," Nafzger said.
Barry and Anderson agreed that the two church bodies
continue on "diverging paths." Anderson asked, "What can we do
to turn those [diverging] arrows so they are parallel, if not
convergent?"
Although possible subjects for ELCA-LCMS discussion were
proposed, no agenda for future theological dialogue between the
two church bodies -- at CLC meetings or in another forum -- was
set.
In other business, CLC members shared updates on
programmatic and other developments in their respective church
bodies and discussed a variety of administrative matters.
Although the CLC generally meets every six months, the March
24 meeting was the first time in two years that the group was
able to meet. It was also the first meeting attended by
Anderson, who was elected bishop in 1995.
The next CLC meeting is set for Nov. 3 in Chicago.
[* The Rev. David L. Mahsman is the director for News
and Information Services at the Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
