Title: ELCA Board Looks at Sacramental Practice
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 29, 1996
ELCA BOARD LOOKS AT SACRAMENTAL PRACTICE (93 lines)
96-07-022-LC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The first draft of a statement on
sacramental practices and the proposed rites of consecration for
diaconal ministers and deaconesses were two issues addressed by
the board of the Division for Congregational Ministries,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at its meeting here March
8-10.
About 500 responses to "The Use of the Means of Grace: A
Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament with Commentary"
have been received. The draft statement was mailed to all 18,000
ELCA rostered leaders last spring with responses due June 1,
1996.
The responses for the most part have been very positive, the
Rev. Paul R. Nelson, DCM director for worship, reported. The
board reviewed an interim summary of responses and gave final
direction to the task force. The task force, appointed by the
board, meets in July to complete a final draft.
The draft's section on Holy Communion received more comments
from respondents than the other three sections -- the preface,
Baptism and the proclamation of the Word -- combined. The
interim summary points out, "communing young children is clearly
the issue which prompts the most comment."
The draft says, "Admission to the Sacrament (Holy Communion)
is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the church to
those who are baptized." This position is the same as the
church's 1989 statement on Communion practices.
The new draft does not suggest a specific age at which
children should begin to receive Communion. "This draft does not
preclude the communion of infants as the 1989 statement did,"
said Nelson.
"It is important to a lot of folks out there that this
statement say something about age," said the Rev. John B.
Mawhirter, board member from Sandusky, Ohio. "There is confusion
when people move from congregation to congregation." Normative
practice is important, said Mawhirter.
"It is evident from the responses this issue is going to be
a much discussed item at Churchwide Assembly," said the Rev.
Michael R. Rothaar, DCM director for planning. He noted that
there have been as many favorable as negative comments about
removing the age criteria. "These are two theological streams
which can not be reconciled -- pure grace, and Communion as a
faith response. Which stream is the lead stream?" he asked.
Nelson pointed out other major issues identified by
respondents, including frequency of Communion, Trinitarian
formula, absolution and confession, and the elements used in Holy
Communion.
The document presents side by side the language of the draft
statement and an accompanying commentary. The board discussed if
it would eventually present both portions for assembly action in
1997 and agreed to make a decision its fall meeting.
In other business, the DCM board forwarded to the ELCA
Church Council the rites for consecration and installation of
diaconal ministers and advised they be recommended for
provisional use.
Diaconal ministers will work in either church or secular
organizations, "under call" from an ELCA congregation, synod or
churchwide ministry, helping the church to "serve in response to
God's love to meet human needs." They will satisfy academic
standards in theology and a secular specialization. The ELCA
adopted this form of lay ministry in 1993.
The board heard advice from the Conference of Bishops, which
met March 1-5 in Orlando, Fla. The bishops counseled the DCM
board "to approve only a provisional entry rite for diaconal
ministers until an adequate entry rite for associates in ministry
is developed."
The Conference of Bishops "didn't ask us to change the rite"
but to present the rites for both associates in ministry and
diaconal ministers in the spring of 1997, noted Wyvetta Bullock,
DCM executive director.
The Rev. Gary J. Benedict, board member from Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minn., dissented: "These rites are
acceptable. We are placating the Conference of Bishops if we
make this change."
"This may be the right rite, but is it the right time?"
asked the Rev. Robert M.A.L. Miller, Grace Lutheran Church, State
College, Pa. "It seems far more acceptable that both rites come
out at the same time."
Those waiting to be consecrated will be under a provisional
rite, noted Beth Ann Lectenberger, Christ Lutheran Church,
Bethesda, Md. Approving both rites together in 1997 "honors many
people in this compromise."
The DCM worship staff will review the "interim provisional"
rite of commissioning for associates in ministry and, if
necessary, recommend new rites in conversation with the Office of
the Secretary, the Division for Ministry, and the Conference of
Bishops.
M. Wyvetta Bullock and the Rev. Mark Moller-Gunderson were
re-elected by the board as DCM executive directors to new four-
year terms.
For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955;
Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956
