ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 27, 2006  

ELCA, LCMS Reps Share Similar Emphases, Discuss '78 Report
06-160-JI*

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Stepped-up outreach efforts, new hymnals
and task forces on funding -- programs and priorities of the two
largest U.S. Lutheran church bodies -- were similar topics that
leaders of those churches discussed when they met here Oct. 3.
     Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS)
came together for discussions as the Committee on Lutheran
Cooperation (CLC). Those discussions are scheduled for twice a
year.
     Once a year, as was the case following this CLC meeting, a
day of theological dialogue also occurs. For this year's
dialogue, the church leaders began what they decided would be a
continuing look at the findings of the 1978 document titled "The
Function of Doctrine and Theology in Light of the Unity of the
Church" -- also known as the "FODT Report."
     During the CLC meeting, the Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS
president, spoke about Ablaze! -- the LCMS emphasis to share the
gospel with 100 million people who are unreached by the gospel or
uncommitted to Christ by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the
Protestant Reformation.
     The LCMS' new "Lutheran Service Book" is garnering "positive
reception," Kieschnick reported, especially its electronic
version that allows customizing worship services at the local
level.
     He also spoke about the recently released report of the
LCMS' Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission and its
recommendations, especially that a "stewardship renaissance" take
place in the church, and that ways be sought to increase
unrestricted giving in the LCMS.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, told about a
number of "activities we have in common with the Missouri Synod."
     "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" is the ELCA's new worship
resource that was published on Oct. 3.  Noting that the book has
features similar to the Missouri Synod's new hymnal, Hanson said
that initial orders are "ahead of expectations."
     Hanson also said that the ELCA also has a Blue Ribbon
Committee on Mission Funding, which is scheduled to issue its
report next year.
     Hanson reported that shared responsibility for new church
starts and their funding is being promoted in the ELCA. He
indicated that to facilitate this, 130 pastors have been trained
to start new churches.
     Discussions at the CLC meeting also included topics such as
budgets, dialogues with other denominations, and relationships
with overseas church bodies.

Anderson, Bohlmann discuss1978 report
     On Oct. 4, most of the CLC members participated in the
theological dialogue centered on the "FODT Report," which was
prepared in 1978 and distributed by the Division of Theological
Studies of the Lutheran Council in the USA (LCUSA).
     The Rev. Ralph A. Bohlmann, president emeritus of the LCMS,
and the Rev. H. George Anderson, former presiding bishop of the
ELCA, opened the dialogue by recalling their involvement in the
preparation of the FODT Report.
     As he introduced Bohlmann and Anderson, the Rev. Samuel H.
Nafzger, executive director of the LCMS Commission on Theology
and Church Relations, explained that "the FODT Report has widely
been regarded as a responsible presentation of the doctrinal and
theological issues that divided the Lutheran Church in America
and The American Lutheran Church from The Lutheran Church--
Missouri Synod.
     "Both sides agreed that the report well stated the
differences," Nafzger said. "These basic differences continue to
exist today," he added, "particularly regarding the understanding
of the authority of the Scriptures, the meaning of subscription
to the Lutheran Confessions, and the basis for church
fellowship."
     While noting that the report points to a number of
agreements, Bohlmann and Anderson also said that it addresses
major theological differences between the LCMS and two of the
three ELCA predecessor churches in the 1970s, and that
differences continue to exist. The discussion that followed
supported their statements.
     At the end of the dialogue session, the participants agreed
to continue to hold future dialogues -- in 2007 and 2008 -- based
on material in the FODT Report, and to invite Bohlmann and
Anderson to participate in those sessions.
     For next year's dialogue, LCMS and ELCA representatives will
give papers on biblical hermeneutics as taught in the two church
bodies' seminaries today, compared with findings of the FODT
Report, especially in regard to Scriptural authority and
interpretation.  In 2008 mission representatives from the two
church bodies will give papers on each church's approach to
sharing the gospel in their respective mission endeavors,
particularly in light of current postmodern, pluralistic and
relativistic thought. Those mission representatives will be
invited to attend next year's dialogue.
     Bohlmann expressed appreciation for the two churches'
leaders and encouraged them to continue theological discussions
in "the slow and patient task of bringing church bodies together
. for the sake of God's mission in the world."
     Anderson spoke of the 30 years since the FODT Report as "a
long trip together, one in which we can recognize commonality in
many areas despite differences, one in which we can respect one
another in a spirit of Christian fellowship."
     In addition to Kieschnick and Nafzger, LCMS participants in
the CLC meeting were the Rev. William R. Diekelman, first vice
president; the Rev. Raymond L. Hartwig, secretary; Ronald
Schultz, chief administrative officer; and the Rev. C. William
Hoesman, president of the Michigan District and chairman of the
Council of Presidents. Also participating in the theological
dialogue for the Synod were Dr. Walter A. Maier III, a professor
at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Rev.
Ralph Blomenberg, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour,
Ind.
     Other ELCA representatives at this CLC meeting were Carlos
Pena, ELCA vice president; the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, secretary;
the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration; and the
Rev. Floyd Schoenhals, bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod,
Tulsa.  The Rev. JoAnn Post of Platteville, Wis., also
participated in the theological dialogue session.
---

*Joe Isenhower Jr. is managing editor for "Reporter," of The
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

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