Title: ELCA Bishops, Council Discuss Aftermath of Tough Assembly Decision
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 22, 1999

ELCA BISHOPS, COUNCIL DISCUSS AFTERMATH OF TOUGH ASSEMBLY DECISION
99-CWA-56-JB

     DENVER (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) discussed how they can participate in the "healing
process" that must occur among members of the church who may feel
"disenfranchised" by the decision of the 1999 Churchwide Assembly to
approve a full communion agreement with The Episcopal Church.
     In a joint statement issued by Dr. Addie J. Butler, vice president
of the ELCA, and the Rev. Charles H. Maahs, chair of the ELCA Conference
of Bishops, they said members of the ELCA Church Council and the 66
bishops of the ELCA met Aug. 20 in a "background session."  The groups'
concerns stem from the assembly's approval of "Called to Common Mission"
(CCM), by a vote of 716 to 317, a Lutheran proposal for full communion
with the Episcopal Church.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center.
There are more than 2,500 people participating, including, 1,038 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     CCM generated controversy among some members of the ELCA,
primarily over the requirement that the ELCA adopt the "historic
episcopate," brought to the relationship by the Episcopalians.  The
historic episcopate is a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back
to the earliest days of the Christian church.  It will require a
Lutheran bishop be present to perform all ordinations of Lutheran
clergy.  Presently, bishops may delegate to other clergy the authority
to perform ordinations.
     CCM is a Lutheran proposal that must be approved by a general
convention of the Episcopal Church which meets here in July 2000.
     "Some bishops said they face many difficulties in the coming days
as they work with members who were opposed to the agreement," the
statement said.  "As ELCA leaders, we understand the need to support and
pray for colleagues in leadership positions and those they serve."
     Bishops and council members are concerned that the church work
actively to avoid regional labels or denigration, Butler and Maahs said.

     "We must work together as one church," they said.
     The statement called for respect for those who opposed CCM and for
including those who opposed the document "in future discussions related
to this issue."  Maahs and Butler said it was suggested  that "we be
particularly attentive" to including leaders who actively opposed CCM,
as the leadership listen to concerns "of members and clergy who may feel
disenfranchised."
     "All of us have work to do in the coming days, weeks and months,"
Butler and Maahs said in their statement. "It is our prayer that as a
church, we can continue to live out our common mission of 'Making Christ
Known.'"
     "We must also find ways to listen to each other with care and
concern, and to have an open and inclusive process and discussion.  We
ask members to reach out to others and to continue to pray for the ELCA
as we move together toward full communion with our sisters and brothers
in the Episcopal Church."

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