The Acts of Convention

1) Welcome and rejoice in the substantial progress of the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogues (LED) I and 11 and of the Anglican-Lutheran International Conversations, looking forward to the day when full communion is established between the Anglican and Lutheran Churches;

2) Recognize now the Lutheran Church in America, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the American Lutheran Church as Churches in which the Gospel is preached and taught;

3) Encourage the development of common Christian life throughout the respective Churches by such means as the following:

a) Mutual prayer and mutual support, including parochial/congregational and diocesan/synodical covenants or agreements, b) Common study of the Holy Scriptures, the histories and theological traditions of each Church, and the materials of LED I and 11, c) Joint programs of religious education, theological discussion, mission, evangelism, and social action,

b) Common study of the Holy Scriptures, the histories and theological traditions of each Church, and the material of LED I and II.

c) Joint programs of religious education, theological discussion, mission, evangelism, and social action,

d) Joint use of physical facilities;

4) Affirm now on the basis of studies of LED I and LED 11 and of the Anglican-Lutheran International Conversations that the basic teaching of each redemptive Church is consonant with the Gospel and is sufficiently compatible with the teaching of this Church that a relationship of Interim Sharing of the Eucharist is hereby established between these Churches in the U.S.A. under the following guidelines:

a) The Episcopal Church extends a special welcome to members of these three Lutheran Churches to receive Holy Communion in it under the Standard for Occasional Eucharist Sharing of its 1979 General Convention. This welcome constitutes a mutual recognition of Eucharistic teaching sufficient for Interim Sharing of the Eucharist, although this does not intend to signify that final recognition of each other's Eucharists or ministries has yet been achieved.

b) Bishops of Dioceses of the Episcopal Church and Bishops/Presidents of the Lutheran Districts and Synods may by mutual agreement extend the regulations of Church discipline to permit common, joint celebration of the Eucharist within their jurisdictions. This is appropriate in particular situations where the said authorities deem that local conditions are appropriate for the sharing of worship jointly by congregations of the respective Churches. The presence of an ordained minister of each participating Church at the altar in this way reflects the presence of two or more Churches expressing unity in faith and baptism as well as the remaining divisions which they seek to overcome; however, this does not imply rejection or final recognition of either Church's Eucharist or ministry. In such circumstances the eucharistic prayer will be one from the Lutheran Book of Worship or the Book of Common Prayer as authorized jointly by the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese and the Bishops/Presidents of the corresponding Lutheran Districts/Synods.

c) This resolution and experience of Interim Sharing of the Eucharist will be communicated at regular intervals to the other Churches of the Lutheran and Anglican Communions throughout the world, as well as to the various ecumenical dialogues in which Anglicans and Lutherans are engaged, in order that consultation may be fostered, similar experiences encouraged elsewhere, and already existing relationships of full communion respected;

5) Authorize and establish now a third series of Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogues for the discussion of any other outstanding questions that must be resolved before full communion (communio in sacris/aitar and pulpit fellowship) can be established between the respective Churches, e.g., implications of the Gospel, historic episcopate, and ordering of ministry (Bishops, Priests, and Deacons) in the total context of apostolicity.