ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 19, 2005

ELCA Council Recommends Interim Agreement With Methodists
05-073-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) recommended that the 2005 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly approve a relationship of Interim Sharing of the Eucharist
between the ELCA and the United Methodist Church.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies.  The
council met here April 9-11.  Assemblies are held every other year; the
next is Aug. 8-14, in Orlando, Fla.
     The council's action follows endorsement of the proposal from the
ELCA Conference of Bishops, which met in Dallas last month.  The
Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the
ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
     With an interim commitment, congregations and judicatories of both
churches will be encouraged to study theological documents, participate
jointly in Holy Communion and explore new opportunities for shared
ministry.  Eventually, the two churches hope to achieve a relationship of
full communion, which allows for clergy of one church body to serve in
congregations of the other church, and creates opportunities for joint
ministry.
     The two churches have been involved in theological dialogues for
nearly 30 years.
     In its action the council expressed "welcome and rejoice in the
substantial progress" of the Lutheran-United Methodist Dialogue,
recognized the United Methodist Church "as church in which the gospel is
preached and taught," affirmed that the "basic teaching of each respective
church is consonant with the gospel," and acknowledged that the central
teaching of the United Methodist Church is "sufficiently compatible" with
the teaching of the ELCA.
     The council also encouraged mutual prayer and support by members of
ELCA congregations, study of Scripture and the history and theology of
both churches, and encouraged joint programs of theological discussion,
evangelical outreach and social ministry endeavors.
     Judith Anne Bunker, council member, Miami, asked if the ELCA and the
United Methodist Church had different understandings of the Eucharist.
     The dialogue partners were concerned about that, said the Rev.
Randall R. Lee, director, ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs.
     In 2004 the General Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted
"This Holy Mystery," a statement on Holy Communion, he said. After
studying that document "the dialogue concluded that there is a very
similar understanding of Holy Communion," Lee said.
     In response to another question, Lee said the work of the dialogue
partners will be beneficial in conversations with the three historic Black
Methodist churches.
     The proposal for Interim Sharing of the Eucharist has been discussed
by the Lutheran-United Methodist Dialogue, theologians of the church and
by the Conference of Bishops, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding
bishop.
     "Interim eucharistic sharing helps us to achieve full communion, but
it does not negate that we may have theological differences," he told the
council during its discussion. "This interim step is very helpful, and I
urge adoption."
     The ELCA has full communion relationships with the Episcopal Church,
Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church
in America and United Church of Christ.
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     Information about the Lutheran-United Methodist Dialogue is at
http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/unitedmethodist/index.html
on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news