For
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the characteristics of full
communion are theological and missiological implications of the Gospel
that allow variety and flexibility. These characteristics stress that
the church act ecumenically for the sake of the world, not for itself
alone. They will include at least the following, some of which exist at
earlier stages:
- a common confessing of the Christian faith;
- a mutual recognition of Baptism and a sharing of the Lord's Supper,
allowing for joint worship and an exchangeability of members;
- a mutual recognition and availability of ordained ministers to the
service of all members of churches in full communion, subject only but
always to the disciplinary regulations of other churches;
- a common commitment to evangelism, witness, and service;
- a means of common decision making on critical common issues of faith
and life;
- a mutual lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches.
We hold this definition and description of full communion to be
consistent with Article VII of the Augsburg Confession, which says, "For
the true unity of the church it is enough to agree concerning the
teaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments."
Agreement in the Gospel can be reached and stated without adopting
Lutheran confessional formulations as such. It allows for flexible,
situation-oriented decisions about order and decision making structures.
It does not deman organic union, though it does not rule it out. This
definition is also in agreement with the understanding of unity adopted
by the Seventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in 1984, "The
Unity We Seek" (quoted under the Lutheran World Federation section of
this statement).
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seeks to be faithful to its
scriptural and confessional foundations. As a confessional church that
is evangelical, catholic and ecumenical, this church will pursue the
goal of full communion and will rejoice in all movement toward that
goal. **Source: Ecumenism: The
Vision of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, 1991. |
