United Methodists,
Lutherans look
towards cooperation
By LINDA BLOOM
For Bishop William Oden, April 28 – the day the vote was taken – was a “banner day” for The United Methodist Church.
Both bishops were instrumental in shepherding the denomination to the vote. Bishop Oden is the Ecumenical Officer of the United Methodist Council of Bishops and Bishop Talbert was co-Chairman of the most recent United Methodist-ELCA dialogue team with ELCA Bishop Allan Bjornberg of
As part of the General Conference’s traditional Ecumenical Day, observed on April 29, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson preached at the morning worship, and a number of ecumenical guests from other denominations, faith groups and organisations were introduced.
Participants at a press conference on the full communion agreement pointed out that the new relationship is not a merger of the two denominations, but recognition of each other’s ministry and mission. It recognises that each has “the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith” expressed in the Scriptures and confessed in historic creeds and the core teachings of each denomination.
Under full communion, the two churches also recognise the authenticity of each other’s baptism and eucharist and the full interchangeability of all ordained ministers.
Bishop Hanson hopes the arrangement will foster an “ecumenical imagination”, with a focus on how to do things together rather than separately. “I don’t think we’ve begun to imagine what the Holy Spirit might do through this deepened relationship,” he said.
Bishop Talbert noted that United Methodists do not often use the words “full communion” because “our table has always been open” to those who profess a belief in Christ.
“It’s not merger,” he added about the agreement. “It means we are open to receiving and accepting and acknowledging each other’s ministries.”
The Rev Donald McCoid is an ELCA executive for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, but his grandfather was a Methodist lay preacher. “This was a reunion for me,” he said about the agreement.
Bishop Gregory Palmer, President of the Council of Bishops, noted that many United Methodists and Lutherans have working relationships at the local level. “We’ll be giving, in some sense, a formal expression to what is happening on the ground already,” he said.
The ELCA will vote on the full communion agreement with United Methodists at its assembly in August 2009. – United Methodist News Service.
Linda Bloom is a United Methodist News Service writer based in