BULLETIN - August 19, 1997 - 10:30 a.m.

EPISCOPAL-LUTHERAN PROPOSAL FAILS; FULL COMMUNION IS DECALRED
WITH PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED DENOMINATIONS

Philadelphia -- The proposal to declare full communion between the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal church failed here
by six votes.

In action taken at the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA just before the
vote, the 5.2 million member Lutheran body declared itself to be in full
communion with three Presbyterian and Reformed Church denominations by a
vote of 839-193.

Both proposals required a two-thirds majority in order to be approved.  To
succeed, the Episcopal proposal would have required 690 of the 1035 votes
cast by the voting members of the ELCA Assembly.

For information contact:

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