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Ecumenical Relations: United States

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Bilateral relationships

Reformed-Catholic Dialogue looks at baptism, Eucharist

Should non-Catholic Christians receive the elements at a Catholic Eucharist? In Sacramentum Caritatis, the Pope asks them to respect the Catholic view "that eucharistic communion and ecclesial communion are so linked as to make it generally impossible . . . to receive the former without enjoying the latter" (par. 56). Therefore, it is not surprising that, at

a May 2008 meeting, when the U.S. Reformed-Catholic dialogue began to discuss the Eucharist, Presbyterian Richard Mouw said that giving attention to ecclesiology could help both sides to clarify their positions.

A Catholic report of the dialogue notes Reformed differences from Catholic practice: "Reformed Christians refrain from the language of offering the Eucharist as a sacrifice to the Father, do not localize Christ’s presence to the elements of bread and wine, and do not preserve the elements beyond the time of worship."

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Co-chairs are Mouw and Catholic bishop Patrick Cooney. Robina Winbush and Martha Moore-Keish (pictured) also represent the PC(USA). Other Reformed come from the Reformed Church of America, the Christian Reformed Church, and the United Church of Christ. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America observes. See a history of forty years of the Reformed-Catholic dialogue.

Evangelical Lutherans have new full communion documents

Confessing Our Faith Together, a proposal for full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the United Methodist Church (UMC), is described by the ELCA ecumenical office as "noteworthy among such ecumenical statements." Each church will take a vote to accept or reject the document as presented, with no amendment. The agreement leaves each free to "pursue additional full communion agreements as each deems appropriate." The ELCA particularly pursues a model of ecumenism embodied in full communion agreements. See its understanding of these.

In the late 1990s, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Moravian Church Northern and Southern Provinces voted to establish a relationship of full communion. Now a document, One Flock, One Shepherd: Lutheran-Moravian Relations, promotes further conversation and relations between these parties. The discussion of full communion is likely the most helpful part of the document for others to read.

United Methodists approve full communion with Evangelical Lutherans

Amid rejoicing, the United Methodist (UMC) General Conference approved a full communion proposal with the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) on April 28. The ELCA vote will come in August 2009. The two churches have been in a period of interim Eucharistic sharing since 2005. Under the new agreement, they will recognize that each has "the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith," the authenticity of each's baptism and eucharist, and the full interchangeability of all ordained ministers. The General Conference also described the meaning of full communion, a term that had not been in United Methodist usage.The UMC-ELCA agreement will affect other relationships which one or the other church has already. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in full communion with the ELCA. See a history of the dialogue leading to this moment. Retired UMC bishop Melvin Talbert  (pictured) was co-chair of the most recent UMC-ELCA dialogue team. Kathryn Johnson, a professor at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, has been a participant for the ELCA.

In clarifying its processes for ecumenical agreements with others, the recent General Conference took action to give its Council of Bishops authority to enter into interim or provisional agreements, following consultation with the UMC Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. But it determined that all agreements for full communion and permanent membership in ecumenical bodies must be ratified by the General Conference.

Two congregations are together in one "dynamic church"

Not waiting for the votes of the UMC or ELCA on full communion, two congregations in McMinnville, Oregon anticipated the agreement they hoped would be coming. Two years ago, they decided to form a cooperative ministry -- "two congregations" but one "dynamic church," "an interdenominational community." They co-own their single property. They have a Cooperative Ministries Council and are developing a team approach to pastoral leadership, though they maintain separate Sunday morning worship times. Explore their informative web site.

United Methodists share the Eucharist with Episcopalians

In early March, the first Methodist-Episcopal Communion service to be held in the state of Wyoming was celebrated. News of the event says the format was basically Methodist "done in a way to include Episcopal worship customs." Nationally, the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church entered a relationship of interim Eucharistic sharing in 2006. Their growing unity is intended to provide for expanded witness and mission. Make Us One with Christ: A Study Guide was developed for congregations to use as part of the process. Both Methodists and Episcopalians have already shared the Eucharist with Lutherans. 

U.S. Catholic-Anglican dialogue is fruitful but more is needed locally

The Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the U.S. (ARC-USA) will draft an agreed statement in response to the international (ARCIC) "Seattle Document," Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ. It is also working on a Spanish language document to clarify the distinctions between the two churches and point to progress in their relationship. ARC-USA is viewed as an extremely fruitful dialogue but, in addition to formal dialogue, more needs to be done at the local level, said Keith Pecklers during New York City talks in February.

Lutherans and Catholics discuss life after death

Following the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, jointly signed in October 1999, the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue decided to examine issues related to the Christian's life after death -- such as purgatory, indulgences, and masses and prayers for the dead -- in light of the principles developed in the Declaration. The group met in March 2007 and again in October. One of the key convergences they can now affirm, and that will help them deal with their differences, is that "the believer’s communion with Christ, and with all our brothers and sisters who are in Christ, cannot be wholly severed by death.” The dialogue includes the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The next meeting will be in April 2008.

GO TO: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) bilateral relationships

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Other churches' relationships

ELCA wants to do more with full communion partners

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a full communion partner of the PC(USA), held a consultation earlier in 2008 as part of its assessment of where it wants to go in its ecumenical and interfaith relationships. Understanding the other churches with which it is in full communion has been an early nurturing stage in its "full communion" relationships, says ecumenical officer Donald McCoid (pictured), but now it needs to do more with them in areas such as outreach, ministry, education, mission planning, cooperation. The ELCA will also develop new relationships. See the extensive ELCA web resources in ecumenical and interfaith relations, including its monthly e-newsletter. Michael Trice is the staff director for ecumenical formation.

Evangelical Lutheran-Missouri Synod cooperative committee continues

Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) who make up the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation agreed in October 2007 to keep meeting "as a sign of commitment to shared ministry,"  even though their differences have led to criticism of the gatherings. ELCA presiding bishop Mark Hanson said it is the ELCA's intention to move toward altar and pulpit fellowship. The LCMS agreed but said that "the Missouri Synod is committed to the Lutheran understanding that altar and pulpit fellowship must be based on agreement in doctrine and practice, and that won't happen if we don't talk to one another."

Christian Reformed Church repents the racism that marred its history

Christian Reformed Church expands its relations with ot

As part of a June 2007 celebratory worship marking its 150th anniversary, the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) offered a prayer of confession repenting the "racism that marred the church's history." It had split with the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in 1857. A month earlier, the CRC's Disaster Response Services and the RCA's World Service signed a partnership agreement intended to make them more effective in North American disaster situations. Many think the two churches are nearly the same in worship style and theology, though some say if they came together there would be difficulties about their differing institutional expressions and struggles over homosexuality. Both are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The CRC is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and the RCA is a National Council of Churches member.
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ELCA apologizes for 16th century Lutheran persecution of Anabaptists

In an action affecting their relationship with the Mennonite Church in the U.S., the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has expressed sorrow for the suffering of Anabaptists during 16th century religious disputes and repudiated statements of earlier reformers on the Anabaptists. To read a report from the ELCA-Mennonite Church USA liaison committee, download Right Remembering in Anabaptist-Lutheran Relations.

"Orthodox Church Today" study breaks stereotypes of ecumenical partners

Orthodox churches are in frequent ecumenical groupings with Protestants but remain stereotypically defined by many of them. The "Orthodox Church Today" study seeks to provide groundbreaking insights through being the first national survey-study of ordinary parishioners in the Greek Orthdoxo Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Church in America. There are numerous references in the report to the inclusion of converts from other Christian communities within the Orthodox community. Section IX (p.125 and following) deals with "religious particularism, ecumenical attitudes and relation to the outisde non-Orthodox community." The study comes from the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute of the Graduate Theological Union.

Oriental Orthodox host Orthodox in prayer service

Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America (SCOOCH) came together recently to celebrate an annual prayer service for the United Nations at the St. Vartan Armenian cathedral in New York City. Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, representing the Moscow Patriarchate, participated in the vespers for the first time as a full member of SCOBA.

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MORE on Ecumenical Relations: International

On the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly web site:

• The permanent General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations: information on its membership and responsibilities
• The Department of Ecumenical and Agency Relationships: resources of the office

On this web site:

• General Assembly: ecumenical and interfaith business

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