Title: Goal of Consensus Amid Controversy No Different Today Than in Early
Church
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1997

GOAL OF CONSENSUS AMID CONTROVERSY
NO DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IN EARLY CHURCH
97-CA-40-DB

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA)   "The more things change, the more they
stay the same," the Rev. James Kenneth Echols told to voting
members and visitors to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's fifth biennial Churchwide Assembly meeting Aug. 14-20
at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  Echols delivered the
third in a series of Bible studies and led the assembly in the
song, "Kum Ba Yah, my Lord" or "come by here," setting the tone
for his presentation.
     Echols drew several parallels between the troubles of the
Corinthian church in the first century and conflicts experienced
by the ELCA today.  Echols' timely presentation came in the midst
of discussion of the ELCA's revised sacramental practices
document, "The Use of the Means of Grace."
     The apostle Paul focused on resolving controversies which
threatened the unity of a deeply divided Corinthian church.  He
sought consensus that would build up the church rather than tear
it down.  Issues in Paul's day revolved around the role of women
in the church, practices for celebrating the Lord's Supper (Holy
Communion) and the use of spiritual gifts in church.
     Echols contended that Paul's words about the role of women
in the Corinthian church are misinterpreted today.  Paul believed
in women's equality before God in the church, but he also
reflected the patriarchial nature of the culture of his day.
     Another point of disagreement in the Corinthian church was
the manner in which the Lord's Supper was celebrated.  The ELCA's
sacramental practices document also focused on this issue.  The
document was adopted following Echols' presentation.
     A third area of Corinthian controversy was the use of
spiritual gifts in the church, such as speaking in tongues.  In
the 1960s and  70s this issue was very controversial and caused
much division.  Echols quoted the famous words of Yogi Berra,
"It's dejavu all over again."
     Echols said, "God is a God of order and peace, not a God of
disunity and controversy. " He stated that there are a variety of
gifts in the church, and all are to be positively regarded and
appropriately used in "making Christ known."  God's reconciling
love was and is an undergirding resource for solving controversy.
     "Controversies are never far away," Echols concluded.  "The
good news is that God calls us through our Baptism to be
reconcilers and consensus builders."
     Echols is the newly-elected president of the Lutheran School
of Theology at Chicago, leaving his post at the Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.  He will be installed Nov.
9 at 3:00pm in Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel.

For information contact:

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