Episcopal, Lutheran and Reformed Leaders Discuss 'Full Communion'
Episcopal News Service. March 17, 1993 [93047]
Frank Imhoff, Assistant Director of news and information for the ELCA.
About 30 educators, theologians and officials of nine denominations met at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach, Florida, February 28-March 3, to consider the implications if the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) would accept both, one, or neither of two proposals to enter into "full communion" -- one with the Episcopal Church, the other with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
"There arises from our discussions the strong conviction...that the most desirable course would be for the ELCA to approve both of these proposals," said members of the consultation in a statement following the meeting. Yet, the members also noted a disclaimer that the "observation of our convergence around this point does not constitute our commendation to the ELCA and should not be construed as such."
The consultation included members of the five church bodies involved in the proposals, as well as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Orthodox Church in America, Roman Catholic Church and United Methodist Church.
"From the ELCA representatives emerge the broad conviction that this would be the most confessionally faithful and ecumenically fruitful course," the report said. The participants from other church bodies gave "broad confirmation of the deeply positive ecumenical significance they would see in this action."
"Full communion" means that the churches would "withdraw any historic condemnations by one side or the other," share the sacraments among their members and "make provision for the orderly exchange of ordained ministers." The churches would work together closely without merging and without either losing their own character.
Lutheran-Episcopal dialogues concluded in January 1991 with a proposed "Concordat of Agreement" that would implement full communion or "altar and pulpit fellowship" as a goal of a 1982 agreement that included sharing the Eucharist and cooperating in ministries.
Lutheran-Reformed talks issued "A Common Calling" in March 1992. That document proposes that the ELCA and three Reformed church bodies "declare that they are in full communion with one another."
Members of the ELCA are about to study both proposals in preparation for future churchwide action. The ELCA's study was the "catalyst" for the Delray Beach meeting, according to the Rev. William G. Rusch, director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs. The purpose of the consultation was "to describe the ecclesiastical implications" of any combination of possible decisions the ELCA could make.
Various speakers presented perspectives of how the agreements could affect relationships of their churches with other churches. Most agreed that each agreement is at least consistent with the other and with earlier ecumenical documents and agreements.
"Adoption of both proposals would, to be sure, create an anomaly: the Episcopal Church and the Reformed churches would both be in communion with the ELCA, but not with each other," the consultation report concluded. "But many participants believe that the ELCA can adopt both ecumenical initiatives with integrity and credibility."
"In my opinion, if the ELCA were to accept both the Concordat and full communion with the Reformed churches, responsible ecumenism would require that the Episcopal Church be in direct dialogue with the three Reformed churches," said the Rev. William Norgren, the Episcopal Church's ecumenical officer.
The report of the consultation described the acceptance of one proposal and not the other, what members of the consultation called, "a disaster," or at least a setback for closer church relations. Rejection of both proposals "would seriously -- if not decisively -- compromise the churches in both ecclesial life and evangelical witness," the consultation said.
The chief legislative bodies of each of the five churches will consider the proposals no later than 1997. The consultants posed a question they felt the churches needed to answer, if those bodies agree to full communion: "Are our churches...capable of entering into such a 'fully committed fellowship?'"