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Conference of Bishops  

Actions - Tucson Resolution

RESOLVED, that the Conference of Bishops affirm the following understandings of "Called to Common Mission":

A. The Conference of Bishops understands that "Called to Common Mission" contains:

1. no requirement that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America must eventually adopt the three-fold order of ministry. Rather, "Called to Common Mission" recognizes that the present understanding of one ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including both pastors and bishops, may continue in effect;

2. no requirement that ELCA bishops be elected to serve as synodical bishops for life. Rather, they will continue to be elected and installed for six-year terms, with eligibility for re-election, subject to term limits, where applicable;

3. no defined role for the presiding bishop or synodical bishops after their tenure in office is completed;

4. no requirement that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America establish the office of deacon, nor that they be ordained;

5. no requirement that priests of The Episcopal Church will serve congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America without the congregation's consent;

6. no requirement that the Ordinal (rules) of The Episcopal Church will apply to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;

7. no commitment to additional constitutional amendments or liturgical revisions other than those presented to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly (ELCA constitutional provisions 8.72.10-16.; 9.21.02.; 9.90.-9.91.02.; 10.31.a.9.; 10.81.01., and parallel provisions in synodical and congregational constitutions); and further

B. The Conference of Bishops has the expectation that:

1. ordinations of pastors will continue to be held at synodical worship services and in congregations, as is the present pattern;

2. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will continue to receive onto the roster of ordained ministers, without re-ordination, pastors from other traditions, some of whom will not have been ordained by a bishop in the historic episcopate;

3. following the adoption of "Called to Common Mission," if someone who has been received onto the roster of ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who was not ordained into the pastoral office in the historic episcopate is elected bishop and installed, he or she will be understood to be a bishop in the historic episcopate;

4. lay persons may continue to be licensed by the synodical bishop in unusual circumstances to administer the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion as is the present practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;

5. "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline of Ordained Ministers" will apply to priests of The Episcopal Church and ordained ministers of the Reformed churches serving ELCA congregations [under ELCA bylaw 8.71.15.b., "...to live in a manner consistent with the ministerial policy of this church."];

6. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not in any way changing its confessional stance that, "For the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the teaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments" (Augsburg Confession, Article VII);

7. The Episcopal Church accepts fully, and without reservation, present ELCA pastors and bishops who are not in the historic episcopal succession;

8. priests of The Episcopal Church and ordained ministers of the Reformed churches will not be asked to subscribe personally to the Confession of Faith of the Lutheran Church as their personal faith. They will be expected to recognize the agreement in faith of the churches and to preach and teach in a manner consistent with the Lutheran Confessions;

9. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America receives the historic episcopal succession as a sign of and service to the continuity and unity of the Church and in no way as a guarantee of the faithful transmission of the faith;

10. future decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on matters of common concern will be made in consultation with churches with whom a relationship of full communion has been declared, but these decisions will not require their concurrence or approval;

11. future Churchwide Assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be free to make whatever decisions they deem necessary after mutual consultation on matters related to full communion;

12. the joint commission [to which reference is made in "Called to Common Mission"] will have no authority over the appropriate decision-making bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or The Episcopal Church; and

13. pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will continue to preside at confirmations.

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A review of the text of the Tucson Resolution demonstrates the fact that it is a summary of (a) sections of "Called to Common Mission," (b) parts of the governing documents of this church, and (c) policy statements of this church:

1. Terms of ELCA bishops (Tucson Resolution, Item A.2.) are defined in the synodical constitution (†S8.51) and the churchwide constitution and bylaws (10.31.05. and 13.22.). Further, paragraph 18 in "Called to Common Mission" acknowledges that tenure in office of an ELCA bishop "may be terminated by retirement, resignation, disciplinary action, or conclusion of term" (Tucson Resolution, Item A.3.).
2. The possibility within the ELCA of authorization of a lay person to preside for Holy Communion when no ordained minister is available for an extended period of time (Tucson Resolution, Item B.4.) is provided in this church's bylaws (7.61.01.) and the sacramental practices document approved by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly, "The Use of the Means of Grace."
3. The possibility of service by an ordained minister of a full-communion partner church in any ELCA congregation (Tucson Resolution, Item A.5., Item B.5., and Item B.8.) is by invitation only (paragraph 16), as specified in this church's bylaws (8.72.12., 8.72.13., 8.72.14., 8.72.15., and 8.72.16.).
4. The declaration of no requirement that the ELCA must eventually adopt the three-fold order of ministry with ordained deacons (Tucson Resolution, Item A.1. and Item A.4.) is shown in paragraph 9 of "Called to Common Mission."
5. There is no expectation or requirement (Tucson Resolution, Item A.6) that the ELCA adopt the Ordinal or rules that apply to ordinations in The Episcopal Church (paragraph 16 of "Called to Common Mission").
6. An ordained minister of a full-communion partner church body serving within an ELCA setting (Tucson Resolution, Item B.5.) is to abide by the standards of this church (churchwide bylaw 8.72.16.; paragraph 16 of "Called to Common Mission," that is, such service is "subject always to...constitutionally approved invitation," and paragraph 22, "respecting always the internal discipline of each church").
7. "Called to Common Mission" affirms the confessional foundation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (paragraph 4) and does not represent in any way a change in this church's confessional stance (Tucson Resolution, Item B.6.).
8. Future decisions related to the relationship of full communion (Tucson Resolution, Items B.10., B. 11., and B.12.) will be made in mutual consultation (paragraphs 23, 24, 25, and 26). The legislative processes and authority of the respective churches remain unchanged. The joint commission—known as the Episcopal-Lutheran Coordinating Committee—is a consultative group, not a legislative body. It is to be "fully accountable to the decision-making bodies of the two churches."
9. The current pattern of confirmations in the ELCA (Tucson Resolution, Item B.13) will continue (†S14.02.b.1 in the Constitution for Synods and *C9.03.b.1 in the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).
10. The pattern for ordinations (Tucson Resolution, Item B.1.) is addressed in paragraph 20, but "Called to Common Mission" contains no reference to the location of such services.
11. Recognition of other relationships of the ELCA (Tucson Resolution, Item B.2.) is contained in paragraphs 13 and 25 of "Called to Common Mission."
12. Provision for the reception of the historic episcopate in the installation of future ELCA bishops (Tucson Resolution, Item B.3.) is indicated in paragraphs 18, 19, and 20 of "Called to Common Mission."