Title: Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Addresses Assembly
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1997

LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES ASSEMBLY
97-CA-17-DM

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- The ecumenical proposals being considered by
this year's Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America "are yet another unfortunate example" of an increasing theological
division between the ELCA and The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, the
Missouri Synod's president told assembly members today.
     But the Rev. A.L. Barry, president of the 2.6 million-member Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod, also said that regardless of what action the ELCA
may take on the proposals, the LCMS will continue its joint humanitarian
and other work with the ELCA and is "committed to working with you to
address our various theological differences, for we do desire closer
theological ties with you."
     Assembly members rose to their feet for a sustained ovation after
Barry's remarks when ELCA Bishop H. George Anderson said that he, too,
regrets "the separation we have experienced between our two church bodies,"
asked "forgiveness" for anything he may have done to add to the division,
and said his vision is "that we can one day be a single, vigorous Lutheran
voice in this country."
     Together, the ELCA and LCMS comprise the vast majority of Lutherans
in the United States.  The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets here
through Wednesday, is considering proposals for full communion with three
Reformed churches and with the Episcopal Church and a joint declaration
with the Roman Catholics on the doctrine of justification.
     "The Missouri Synod believes that these proposals are yet another
unfortunate example of how our two churches are continuing to move farther
away from one another, in terms of our theological understandings and
confessional commitments," Barry said in his greetings to the assembly here
this morning.  "It would be our feeling that through the adoption of these
proposals, you would in reality be moving away from the scriptural and
confessional position of historic Lutheranism."
     During a news conference following his remarks to the assembly, Barry
agreed that adoption of the ecumenical proposals would make it more
difficult to bring the two Lutheran bodies closer together.  "Once you take
a step, it's difficult to step back," Barry said.  Still, he added, both he
and Anderson "would like to see our two churches on converging, rather than
diverging, courses.  I welcome his comments."
     Unlike the ELCA, the Missouri Synod believes that agreement on what
Scripture teaches is necessary before there can be full communion between
two church bodies.
     Barry made two other points in his greetings that he said should be
emphasized   that through the preaching of the Gospel and administration of
the sacraments, the members of both church bodies are greatly blessed with
God's forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, and that all Lutherans
need to be bold in sharing this blessing with family, friends, neighbors
and coworkers.
     "Lay people have contacts and opportunity that we pastors do not
have," Barry said at his news conference.  He said they should just tell
those around them that what Christ "has done for me, he's  done for you."
     Barry was asked if  approval of the ecumenical proposals, which have
been actively debated here, could lead some members of the ELCA to seek
membership in the LCMS.  He replied that the Missouri Synod would talk with
anyone, but that the LCMS "should not go wooing people out of the ELCA" and
that  any disaffected ELCA members also would be asked to speak to their
bishops about any concerns.  "We would not want to use this issue as
flypaper to attract those who are dissatisfied," Barry said.

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