Title: Lutherans Are in the Ecumenical Spotlight
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 15, 1998

LUTHERANS ARE IN THE ECUMENICAL SPOTLIGHT
98-17-107-FI

     ST. PAUL, Minn. (ELCA) -- "The National Workshop on Christian Unity
could not be happening at a more auspicious time for Lutherans," said the
Rev. Darlis Swan, associate director of the Department for Ecumenical
Affairs of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She addressed a
seminar on "next steps toward full communion" between the ELCA and The
Episcopal Church during the National Workshop on Christian Unity here April
27-30.
     "It seems appropriate for me as a Lutheran to be addressing this
topic as the spotlight is clearly pointed in our direction at the moment,"
Swan said. She noted that a Lutheran revision of a proposal for full
communion between the two churches was just beginning to be discussed, that
Lutheran-Reformed full communion had just been ratified and that Lutheran-Moravian full
communion was beginning its voting process.
     In 1997 the Episcopal Church approved the Concordat of Agreement, a
proposal for full communion with the ELCA. The ELCA narrowly defeated the
proposal and recommitted itself to the process toward full communion with
the Episcopal Church.
     On April 9 the ELCA issued the first draft of "Called to Common
Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement"
which is to be widely discussed, reworked and presented to the ELCA's 1999
Churchwide Assembly as a new proposal for full communion.
     "The 'next steps' may take us into unknown territories, when we would
rather walk down a more comfortable road with familiar traveling companions
or walk alone," said Swan. "Our next steps ought to be determined by where
the Holy Spirit is leading us."
     Swan identified several "next steps" for Lutheran-Episcopal full
communion. "Keep the covenants between parishes and between synods and
dioceses going," she said. "Celebrate our mutual recognition of baptism."
Study the Lutheran revision of the full communion proposal in as many
arenas as possible.
     Some steps identified during more than 30 years of dialogue between
the two churches have yet to be taken, said Swan, such as "common
educational programs and the joint use of educational facilities among
other things." Lutheran and Episcopal congregations are celebrating the
Lord's Supper together as a step toward unity, rather than as a sign of
unity. "We are not living out a life of common worship and mission," she
said.
     "My hope is that whatever next steps we take as Lutherans and
Episcopalians, we will consider where they will lead us in relation to
other Christians throughout the world," said Swan. "It is my conviction
that our Lord will guide our steps into the future."
     The Lutheran Ecumenical Representatives Network has an important role
to play as the ELCA reviews this first draft, said LERN's president, the
Rev. Thomas A. Prinz, Nativity Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va. The
network could help organize local and regional programs inviting Lutherans
in congregations, synods and other institutions to read, discuss and
respond to the draft proposal ... with Episcopalians.
     The network's annual meeting is a key part of the National Workshop
on Christian Unity. In each of the ELCA's 65 synods the bishop is
considered its ecumenical officer. Each bishop is invited to appoint an
ecumenical representative to work within the network. In some cases the
bishop serves as that representative.
     "It would be my hope that we could constantly remind people to
respect the nature of a full communion conversation," said Prinz. "While
we discuss this document, we do it with Episcopalians present."
     "Episcopalians need to hear what we are saying about it. They need
to hear Lutheran concerns, Lutheran cautions and the critical comments of
Lutherans. That is all going to proceed out of Lutheran theology and
Lutheran experience -- living out Lutheran theology in this country," he
said.
     "One of the most important things LERN could do is to help set the
tone for the discussion over the new document," said Prinz. "The way to do
that is to start the discussion right away ... what has been changed, why
it has been changed, and what that can mean for this potential
relationship."
     The ELCA's synods are organized into nine regions. The ecumenical
representatives from each region elect one from their membership to serve a
three-year term on the LERN executive board. The nine board members elect
LERN officers -- president, vice president and secretary -- to two-year
terms from their membership.
     Representatives elected the Rev. David E. Jensen, Ascension Lutheran
Church, Minocqua, Wis., to the LERN executive board, and re-elected Prinz
and the Rev. Merlyn E. Satrom, retired, St. Paul, Minn. Prinz continues to
serve as LERN president until 1999.


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Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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