The church council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has recommended that its churchwide assembly in August approve interim sharing of the Eucharist between the ELCA and the United Methodist Church

Christian Century, May 17, 2005

The church council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has recommended that its churchwide assembly in August approve interim sharing of the Eucharist between the ELCA and the United Methodist Church. The ELCA bishops earlier endorsed the step, which follows years of Lutheran-United Methodist dialogues.

Under an interim relationship, congregations and regional bodies could hold joint communion services and explore shared ministry opportunities. Eventually, the two churches hope to inaugurate full communion, which would also allow for clergy of one church body to serve in congregations of the other. The ELCA already has full communion ties with the Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ.