Pact on track, say ELCA leaders

Christian Century, May 3, 2000

Leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have said local synods and churches who disagree with the proposed "full communion" agreement with Episcopalians cannot reject it simply because they do not agree with it. Meeting in Chicago April 7-9, the ELCA's Church Council, its highest legislative authority outside of churchwide assemblies, said the agreement with the Episcopal Church will go into effect on January 1, 2001.

The historic agreement was approved by the ELCA last year and is expected to be approved by Episcopalians this summer. The accord will allow both churches to recognize each other's clergy and sacraments and share in joint missions projects.

Opponents within the ELCA object to a provision that says Lutherans must recognize the historic line of bishops within the Episcopal Church, specifically in regard to ordinations. Lutherans say the "historic episcopate" goes against Lutheran tradition and downplays the role of the laity. In a series of resolutions on the "Called to Common Mission" agreement, the council said the church's 65 synods are not free to reject the agreement. According to the council, ecumenical relations are adopted by the entire church and are not "legislated on a synod-by-synod basis."

Opponents, led by the Eastern North Dakota Synod, had asked the council to consider delaying the agreement until disagreements could be worked out. The council rejected that motion and said the agreement will go into effect next year, the same time Episcopalians will enter into the accord. However, church leaders did leave the door open to ongoing discussions about how the agreement will be implemented to accommodate concerns about ordination.

In other business, the Church Council declined to initiate a study on the ordination of gays and lesbians within the ELCA. In November the council asked a church agency to draft a report on the feasibility of such a study. Meeting in Chicago, the council decided not to pursue the study, opting instead to "continue thoughtful, deliberate and prayerful conversations throughout the ELCA about human sexuality."

The Church Council also adopted a working policy on school vouchers. The council was asked to endorse a policy by churches in Pennsylvania, where state officials are experimenting with voucher programs. While stopping short of a churchwide policy or position, the council offered a set of guidelines for local pastors to evaluate voucher programs in terms of providing equal access to poor and minority students.