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'''Called to Common Mission''' is an agreement between [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|The Episcopal Church]] and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA), establishing full communion between them. Under the agreement, they recognize the validity of each other's [[baptism]]s and [[ordination]]s. The agreement provided that the ELCA would accept the [[historic episcopate]], something which became controversial in the ELCA. In response to concerns about the meaning of CCM, bishops in the ELCA drafted [http://www.elca.org/synods/bishopstucson.html Tucson Resolution], which presented the official ELCA position. |
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'''Called to Common Mission''' ('''CCM''') is an agreement between [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|The Episcopal Church]] (ECUSA) and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) in the United States, establishing full communion between them. It was ratified by the ELCA in 1999, the ECUSA in 2000, after the narrow failure of a previous agreement. Its principal author on the Episcopal side was theological professor [[J. Robert Wright]]. Under the agreement, they recognize the validity of each other's [[baptism]]s and [[ordination]]s. The agreement provided that the ELCA would accept the [[historical episcopate]] and the "threefold ministry" of [[bishop]] - [[priest]] (or [[pastor]]) - [[deacon]] with respect to ministers of communicant churches serving ELCA congregations; the installation of the ELCA presiding bishop was performed through the laying on of hands by Lutheran bishops in the historic episcopate.<ref name="VelikoGros2005">{{cite book |last1=Veliko |first1=Lydia |last2=Gros |first2=Jeffrey |title=Growing Consensus II: Church Dialogues in the United States, 1992-2004 |date=2005 |publisher=USCCB Publishing |isbn=978-1-57455-557-8 |language=English |quote=In order to receive the historic episcopate, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pledges that, following the adoption of this Concordat and in keeping with the collegiality and continuity of ordained ministry attested as early as canon 4 of the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I, AD 325), at least three bishops already sharing in the sign of episcopal succession will be invited to participate in the installation of its next Presiding Bishop through prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit and with the laying-on of hands. These participating bishops will be invited from churches of the Lutheran communion which share in the historic episcopate.}}</ref> This provision was opposed by some in the ELCA, which after its founding merger in 1988, held a lengthy study of the ministry which was undertaken with divided opinions.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} In response to concerns about the meaning of the CCM, synod bishops in the ELCA drafted the Tucson resolution<ref>[http://wordalone.org/docs/wa-tucson-resolution.shtml Tucson Resolution] {{Dead link|date=July 2022}} archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142844/http://wordalone.org/docs/wa-tucson-resolution.shtml Internet Archive] retrieved August 28, 2018</ref> which presented the official ELCA position. It made clear that there is no requirement to ordain deacons or accept their ministry. It also provided assurance that the ELCA did not and was not required by CCM to change its own theological stance. |
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Lutheran churches of Scandinavian origin, such as the [[Church of Sweden]] and [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya|Church in Kenya]], affirm [[apostolic succession]] and are in the historical episcopate;<ref>{{cite book |author1=Mark A. Granquist |author2=Jonathan Strom |author3=Mary Jane Haemig |author4=Robert Kolb |author5=Mark C. Mattes |title=Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions |date=2017 |publisher=Baker Academic |isbn=978-1-4934-1023-1 |language=English}}</ref> nevertheless, some within the ELCA argued that the historical episcopate would contradict the doctrine that the church exists wherever the Word of God is preached and sacraments are practiced. The traditional ELCA doctrine is affirmed by the Tucson resolution. Others objected on the grounds that adopting the Episcopalian / [[Anglican]] view on priestly orders and hierarchical structure was contrary to the [[Lutheranism|Evangelical Lutheran]] concept of the "[[priesthood of all believers]]", which holds that all Christians stand on equal footing before God. They argued that the [[Old Covenant]] required a priest to mediate between God and humanity, but that [[New Covenant]] explicitly abolishes the need for priestly role by making every Christian a priest with direct access to God's grace. The Tucson resolution explained that the ELCA had not adopted the Episcopal view, but ECUSA or Reformed ordinands accepted by ELCA congregations would follow ELCA practice. Still others objected because of the implied directive that the use of a [[lay presidency]] would be abolished. This was a particular issue for rural congregations that periodically "called" a congregation member to conduct communion services consecrating the elements (of bread and wine for service) in the interim period or with the absence of ordained clergy (pastor).{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} The Tucson resolution explicitly affirmed the continued use of lay ministry. |
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In response, the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a bylaw permitting ordination of [[pastor]]s to be performed by another pastor with permission of the local synodical bishop in "unusual circumstances". Some argued that this violated the agreement. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church expressed his disappointment at the Assembly's decision. |
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*[[Churches Beyond Borders]] |
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*[[Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ]] |
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*[[Porvoo Communion]] |
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*[[Waterloo Declaration]] |
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==References== |
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Some have tried to characterize the ELCA opposition to CCM as simply a disagreement between conservatives and liberals, but that description fails to address the "[[High Church Lutheranism|high church]]" and "low church" views that complicated the issue. |
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<References/> |
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== External links == |
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Some in the Episcopal Church like those in the Evangelical Lutheran Church had problems with the agreement. Many Episcopalians don't recognize the Apostolic Succession that was introduced into the ELCA. This is one of the many issues in the Episcopal Church making a greater divide between liberals and conservatives. |
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*[https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/agreement-full-communion-called-common-mission Text of the agreement] |
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*[http://lutheran-episcopal.org Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee] |
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[[Category:Protestant ecumenism]] |
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*[http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/fullcommunion/episcopal/ccmresources/text.html Official text of Called to Common Mission] |
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[[Category:Episcopal Church (United States)]] |
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[[Category:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Lutheranism]] |
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[[Category:Anglican ecumenism]] |
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*[[Anglicanism]] |
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[[Category:1999 in Christianity]] |
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[[Category:Religious proclamations]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:18, 22 March 2024
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Called to Common Mission (CCM) is an agreement between The Episcopal Church (ECUSA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in the United States, establishing full communion between them. It was ratified by the ELCA in 1999, the ECUSA in 2000, after the narrow failure of a previous agreement. Its principal author on the Episcopal side was theological professor J. Robert Wright. Under the agreement, they recognize the validity of each other's baptisms and ordinations. The agreement provided that the ELCA would accept the historical episcopate and the "threefold ministry" of bishop - priest (or pastor) - deacon with respect to ministers of communicant churches serving ELCA congregations; the installation of the ELCA presiding bishop was performed through the laying on of hands by Lutheran bishops in the historic episcopate.[1] This provision was opposed by some in the ELCA, which after its founding merger in 1988, held a lengthy study of the ministry which was undertaken with divided opinions.[citation needed] In response to concerns about the meaning of the CCM, synod bishops in the ELCA drafted the Tucson resolution[2] which presented the official ELCA position. It made clear that there is no requirement to ordain deacons or accept their ministry. It also provided assurance that the ELCA did not and was not required by CCM to change its own theological stance.
Lutheran churches of Scandinavian origin, such as the Church of Sweden and Church in Kenya, affirm apostolic succession and are in the historical episcopate;[3] nevertheless, some within the ELCA argued that the historical episcopate would contradict the doctrine that the church exists wherever the Word of God is preached and sacraments are practiced. The traditional ELCA doctrine is affirmed by the Tucson resolution. Others objected on the grounds that adopting the Episcopalian / Anglican view on priestly orders and hierarchical structure was contrary to the Evangelical Lutheran concept of the "priesthood of all believers", which holds that all Christians stand on equal footing before God. They argued that the Old Covenant required a priest to mediate between God and humanity, but that New Covenant explicitly abolishes the need for priestly role by making every Christian a priest with direct access to God's grace. The Tucson resolution explained that the ELCA had not adopted the Episcopal view, but ECUSA or Reformed ordinands accepted by ELCA congregations would follow ELCA practice. Still others objected because of the implied directive that the use of a lay presidency would be abolished. This was a particular issue for rural congregations that periodically "called" a congregation member to conduct communion services consecrating the elements (of bread and wine for service) in the interim period or with the absence of ordained clergy (pastor).[citation needed] The Tucson resolution explicitly affirmed the continued use of lay ministry.
See also
[edit]- Churches Beyond Borders
- Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
- Porvoo Communion
- Waterloo Declaration
References
[edit]- ^ Veliko, Lydia; Gros, Jeffrey (2005). Growing Consensus II: Church Dialogues in the United States, 1992-2004. USCCB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-57455-557-8.
In order to receive the historic episcopate, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pledges that, following the adoption of this Concordat and in keeping with the collegiality and continuity of ordained ministry attested as early as canon 4 of the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I, AD 325), at least three bishops already sharing in the sign of episcopal succession will be invited to participate in the installation of its next Presiding Bishop through prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit and with the laying-on of hands. These participating bishops will be invited from churches of the Lutheran communion which share in the historic episcopate.
- ^ Tucson Resolution [dead link] archived at Internet Archive retrieved August 28, 2018
- ^ Mark A. Granquist; Jonathan Strom; Mary Jane Haemig; Robert Kolb; Mark C. Mattes (2017). Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-1-4934-1023-1.