We are now three weeks into our new relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The approval of the document Called to Common Mission by the 73rd General Convention last summer established full communion between the Episcopal Church and the ELCA. While full communion is not a merger, it does move the two churches closer together, enabling them to share clergy and sacraments. Each church retains its own identity.

It remains to be seen what impact the agreement will have, but if congregations are going to embrace the new relationship, this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25) is a good time to begin. In many places, close relationships between Episcopal and Lutheran churches have existed for years, some even longer than the 30 years in which the two churches have been involved in formal dialogue. Joint Eucharists and other services involving Episcopalians and Lutherans have been held to mark such occasions as Ascension Day, Easter Vigil, or the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There have been instances of Episcopal priests serving Lutheran churches and Lutheran pastors ministering to Episcopal congregations.

We would expect the relationships between Episcopalians and Lutherans to become strongest in smaller communities. In places where small congregations of both churches exist but struggle, closer cooperation between the two or joint ministries may provide impetus to move forward.

Over time, we look for ordinations to help bring the churches closer together. Under the agreement, Episcopal bishops will participate in the ordination of Lutheran clergy, thus extending the historic episcopate to the ELCA, which did not possess it. In addition, Lutheran bishops will be consecrated by at least three bishops in the historic episcopate. Lutheran bishops also will participate in the ordinations of Episcopal clergy.

We expect the relationship with Lutherans to be watched closely by other churches. There is a certain novelty to the arrangement because it involves one church claiming to be part of the historic episcopal succession and one church which does not. A similar pact in Europe, the Porvoo Agreement, brought together Anglican and Lutheran churches, but some of those Lutheran bodies have retained the historic episcopate.

Like most ventures, Called to Common Mission, to be successful, will have to be carried out in local congregations. It's likely that when we get to know Lutherans better, when we learn more about their church, we'll discover we have much in common.