At the 1997 Churchwide Assembly, the Concordat of
Agreement fell a half-dozen votes short of passage. That proposal would
have created a relationship of full communion between the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Episcopal Church. Instead the
assembly adopted the following actions related to relations with The
Episcopal Church:
Resolution One (CA97.5.23):
WHEREAS, while a solid majority (66.1 percent) voted for the adoption of
the Concordat of Agreement, that was not sufficient for the required
two-thirds majority, and
WHEREAS, despite the sadness among us and within the church at large,
our church remains committed to the ultimate goal of full communion with
The Episcopal Church and other churches, and
WHEREAS, we recognize our need as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America to understand our own doctrine, creeds, and polity and that of
The Episcopal Church; therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America in Churchwide Assembly, hereby,
Request that the bishop, Church Council, Department for Ecumenical
Affairs, and Conference of Bishops create opportunities for dialogue and
teaching within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concerning
the possible avenues for full communion with The Episcopal Church;
Request that educational opportunities be created in consultation with
The Episcopal Church for members of the faculties of ELCA colleges and
seminaries, the Conference of Bishops, clergy, and laity designed to
communicate the history, theology, and ecclesiology of both The
Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and
that those materials will be made available to all ELCA congregations
and rostered persons during the two-year period before the next
Churchwide Assembly;
Call for discussion in the 1997-1999 biennium within our church of the
process toward full communion and the implications of full communion
with The Episcopal Church; and
Aspire to ratification of an agreement for full communion with The
Episcopal Church at the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.
Resolution Two (CA97.5.24):
RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seek
conversations with The Episcopal Church, building on the degree of
consensus achieved at this assembly and addressing concerns that emerged
during consideration of the Concordat of Agreement. The aim of these
conversations is to bring to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly a revised
proposal for full communion; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the 1982 agreement for "Interim Eucharistic Sharing"
continue to guide joint ministry efforts in worship, education, and
mission; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the 1997 Churchwide Assembly direct the bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to communicate this request to
the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.
Following the Churchwide Assembly, Presiding Bishop Anderson prepared a
set of options describing possible ways to continue the conversation on
full communion with The Episcopal Church. He shared these options with
the Conference of Bishops at its October 1997 meeting and the Church
Council at its November 1997 meeting. Having received the advice of the
Conference of Bishops, the Church Council voted in November 1997
(CC97.11.76):
To request that the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America work with the counterpart in The Episcopal
Church in developing a revised and rewritten Concordat of Agreement,
using clear, down-to- earth language and including the rationale for its
conclusions and recommendations; and
To authorize the presiding bishop, in consultation with the Executive
Committee of the Church Council, to appoint a small drafting team to be
informed by a panel of advisors in that endeavor, with the understanding
that an effort will be made in the composition of the team and panel to
reflect the diversity of opinion on this matter within this church.
The presiding bishop, in accord with that resolution, appointed the
following Lutheran members of the drafting team: the Rev. Dr. Martin E.
Marty, chair (Chicago, Ill.); the Rev. Dr. Todd W. Nichol (St. Paul,
Minn.); and Dr. Michael J. Root (Columbus, Ohio). The Episcopal Church
likewise appointed three members to the drafting team.
The following persons were appointed to serve on the Lutheran advisory
panel: Ms. Terry L. Bowes (Longmont, Colo.); Ms. Katharin A. Kelker
(Billings, Mont.); Pr. Joan A. Mau (Washington Island, Wis.); Pr. Nelson
T. Strobert (Gettysburg, Pa.); Bp. Peter Rogness (Milwaukee, Wis.); Ms.
Marybeth A. Peterson (Omaha, Neb.); Pr. Thomas A. Prinz (Alexandra,
Va.); Gov. Albert Quie (Minnetonka, Minn.); Dr. Nelvin Vos (Maxatawny,
Pa.); and Bp. Ronald B. Warren (Atlanta, Ga.).
Prior to the Church Council's April 1998 meeting, the drafting team met
on December 18-19, 1997, January 14-15, 1998, February 17-18, 1998,
March 23-24, 1998, and April 6-8, 1998; the advisory panel met with the
drafting team on December 18, 1997, and April 6, 1998.
In April 1998, the text of the revised document, "Called to Common
Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of
Agreement," was provided to the Church Council as information. Essays by
the drafting team also were presented as part of the Church Council's
in-depth study and discussion of the proposal. The council took the
following actions at its April 1998 meeting (CC98.04.27):
To express appreciation to the advisory panel and to the drafting team
that prepared the document, "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran
Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement," in response to
action taken by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly and by the Church Council
in November 1997;
To call on members and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America to review this proposal for full communion with The Episcopal
Church within the framework of the statement, "Ecumenism: The Vision of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," as adopted by the 1991
Churchwide Assembly;
To ask members and congregations to review this draft in light of the
following questions, which were developed by the Conference of Bishops:
(1) How will this proposal for full communion serve the mission, common
witness, and service of the Church?
(2)
Does the revised proposal clearly set the ministry of bishops in the
wider context of the ministry of all the baptized?
(3)
Does the revised proposal demonstrate a Lutheran understanding of
the one office of the ministry of Word and Sacrament?
(4)
Does the revised proposal effectively and adequately present a
Lutheran understanding of the historic episcopate for the North American
context?
(5) What other areas of concern need to be addressed?
To encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to
strengthen and renew efforts to listen carefully and respectfully to
each other as they review this draft;
To call on members and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America to take advantage of the opportunities for dialogue and study
of available resources for greater understanding of the history,
theology, and ecclesiology of this church and The Episcopal Church and
to deepen and intensify their conversations on full communion with our
sisters and brothers in The Episcopal Church; and
To invite and encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America to respond to this draft, thereby participating in the ongoing
development of a revised proposal for full communion, which will be
available for review in November 1998, prior to consideration by the
1999 Churchwide Assembly.
Given the action of encouragement for members and congregations to study
and respond to the draft, the council also adopted the following
resolution in April 1998 (CC98.04.41):
To authorize the advisory panel to review responses to the document,
"Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the
Concordat of Agreement," and to advise the drafting team based on that
review.
Responses from synodical assemblies, seminary
faculties, and numerous individuals and congregations were gathered by
staff of the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations and distributed to the
members of the advisory panel and drafting team.
The advisory panel met on October 13, 1998, with
members of the drafting team, to analyze the responses and to provide
advice to the drafting team. The drafting team met October 14-15, 1998,
in order to prepare a second draft, with substantial revisions, of
"Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the
Concordat of Agreement."
To facilitate widespread study, discussion, and understanding among
members and throughout the congregations and synods of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, including the 1999 synodical assemblies, the
Church Council of the ELCA acted on November 15, 1998, to convey the
revised proposal, "Called to Common Mission," to the 1999 Churchwide
Assembly. The Churchwide Assembly is scheduled August 16-22 in Denver.
The council voted
(CC98.11.55):
To transmit the following resolution to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for action:
RESOLVED, that this Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America accepts "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal
for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" as set forth below as the
basis for a relationship of full communion to be established between The
Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and be
it further
RESOLVED, that this Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America requests that Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convey this action to
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold of The Episcopal Church.
The Church Council also adopted a resolution related to the process for
transmittal and discussion of the revised document, "Called to Common
Mission."
(CC98.11.70):
To adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the action by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America to transmit "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran
Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" to the 1999
Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
responds to the mandate of the 1997 Churchwide Assembly "to bring to the
1999 Churchwide Assembly a revised proposal for full communion"
(CA97.5.24) with The Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Church Council reflect a diversity of views
on particulars of "Called to Common Mission," we nonetheless reaffirm
our commitment to the action of the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that
"our church remains committed to the ultimate goal of full communion
with The Episcopal Church and other churches" (CA97.5.23); and
WHEREAS, the text of "Called to Common Mission" transmitted to the 1999
Churchwide Assembly reflects significant changes that respond to
criticisms and suggestions related to the three-fold ministry of Word
and Sacrament and the concept of "bishop for life;" and WHEREAS, changes
to the constitution and bylaws of this church and to the approved Rite
for the Installation of a Bishop will be provided at the time of the
publication of "Called to Common Mission"; and
WHEREAS, while "Called to Common Mission" may not be a document
acceptable to the entire membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, it nevertheless provides a basis for articulating a vision
of a shared common mission with The Episcopal Church; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America offers thanks to the members of the drafting team and the
members of the advisory panel, as well as to all who provided written
responses with comments and suggestions, and to those who signed
petitions; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Church Council seeks to promote further discussion,
continued education, and prayer related to the proposal to establish
full communion with The Episcopal Church; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Church Council urges that this process of discussion,
continued education, and prayer leading to and following the 1999 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly be conducted with honesty, mutual respect, and
pastoral care for all persons in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and The Episcopal Church.
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