Title: ELCA Debates What Form Fellowship Should Take
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1997

ELCA DEBATES WHAT FORM
FELLOWSHIP SHOULD TAKE
97-CA-16-CA

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Should Lutherans be in close fellowship with
Episcopalians and Christians from Reformed and Presbyterian Churches? If
so, what form should that fellowship take? And should it be with one, both
or -- if not both -- neither? Those questions will be answered tomorrow,
but arose during a one-hour debate at the Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America here today.
     The debate was focussed on the proposal to declare "full communion"
with three Reformed church denominations, but the implications of that
decision for relations with the Episcopal Church -- another recommendation
facing the assembly -- crept into the discussion.
     If endorsed, the declarations of "full communion" would mean that the
churches develop ways to share mission and other work and processes to
provide for the interchangeability of clergy. The proposals come after
several decades of theological dialogues and are the most specific actions
ever to result from the inter-denominational talks.
     All other parties to the proposal have approved the documents by
large majorities in conventions held earlier this year. The ELCA will take
its vote on Monday.
     The hour of parliamentary debate today followed an informal hour-long
discussion yesterday, after two Lutheran theologians had presented
arguments for and against the "Formula of Agreement" establishing full
communion with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in
America and the United Church of Christ.
     "There is a risk involved in affirming both proposals
simultaneously," said Richard Ylvisaker of Decorah, Iowa, "but it would be
nearly unthinkable to approve one, but not the other."
     Earlier discussion on the proposal revealed sharp concern as to
whether or not the UCC has a strong enough doctrinal base to satisfy
Lutheran concern for theological precision. But today's debate dealt
largely with the implications of approving or denying the proposal.
     The Rev. Howard Mettee, Reformation Lutheran Church, Greenville,
Tenn., said "we have been praying for unity for 40 years and now God seems
to have responded to our prayers."
     Responding to the concern expressed by some that the Formula of
Agreement was too vaguely worded, the Rev. Ross Goodman, Good Shepard
Lutheran Church, North Quincy, Mass., said "we will only fully understand
later what this step means." Goodman said he lamented the "climate of fear
and doubt and suspicion" expressed in some of the earlier debate. "If we
reject either one (of the proposals)," he said, "I will return to Boston
embarrassed and ashamed."
     But Charles Gross of Newport Beach, Calif., criticized the Reformed
church as a "poor piece of man-made legislation" that tended to separate
clergy and laity.
     As the convention sessions opened, ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George
Anderson announced his enthusiasm for the proposals, and as the debate
began the Rev. Mark Graham, St. John Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Va., said he
believed it was the Holy Spirit that "reminded me to trust, trust our
presiding bishop, trust Christians outside the Lutheran confessions, trust
Jesus Christ."
     One voting member had announced that he would present an
"alternative" proposal, should the ecumenical measures fail; but speakers
pointed out that any "alternative" would have no standing with the other
partners in the dialogues. The Rev. Guy S. Edmiston, bishop of the ELCA's
Lower Susquehanna Synod, and a co-chair of the Lutheran-Reformed
coordinating committee which prepared the Formula said "any alternative
would have no standing at all ecumenically."
     The procedure agreed to by the denominations stipulated that all had
to approve exactly the same documents for the action to be properly
endorsed.
     The Rev. Alvin Barry, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod, the St. Louis-based denomination that is not in fellowship with the
ELCA, nor involved in wide-ranging ecumenical discussions, brought
greetings to the assembly and said he was convinced that adopting the
proposals would drive the ELCA and the LC-MS further apart.
     But the Rev. George P. Mocko, bishop of the Delaware-Maryland synod,
recalled that he had tried to bring the LC-MS into closer Lutheran and
ecumenical relations. He said, "they would talk talk talk talk talk, and
then walk away."
     Should the ELCA turn down the ecumenical initiatives, Mocko said, "I
fear we will be tarred with that same brush."

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html