Lutheran-UMC group
forges three-year plan

CHICAGO – A joint commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The United Methodist Church developed a three-year plan at its inaugural meeting on July 15.

The commission is charged with assisting the two denominations in fostering their new full communion relationship. The commission appointed two co-chairmen: the Rev Jonathan W. Linman, Assistant to the Bishop for Formation, ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, and the Rev Edgardo Colon-Emerie, Professor and Director of Hispanic Studies at Duke Divinity School, Durham.

“This new relationship of full communion marks a denominational milestone in the ecumenical history of The United Methodist Church,” said the Rev Stephen J. Sidorak Jr, a top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. “We’re really excited about it,” he said. – United Methodist News Service.