Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue Finishes Two More Statements
Episcopal News Service. April 17, 1980 [80140]
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- The U.S. Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue has completed work on two more joint statements -- on the eucharist and the gospel.
The group decided to delay release of the documents until the ninth and final meeting of this second dialogue series Nov. 5-8. In September 1978, the group issued a five-paragraph "agreed statement on justification."
The three statements, plus work in progress on apostolicity and Scripture, are to be included in the group's report on this round. The first round included six sessions from 1969-1972.
At the four-day meeting at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod seminary here, the group also agreed to a tentative outline of its report. Besides the five summary statements and some supporting papers, it is to include a discussion of Lutheran-Episcopal relationships in recent years and an outline of the Dialogue's methodology, including individual Lutheran and Episcopal reflections about how each tradition does theology.
There are also to be recommendations for implementation and further study related to the five joint statements, plus commentary directed to members of each tradition by a dialogue participant from that tradition.
It is generally agreed that the report and recommendations of the first round -- released in October 1972 -- have not had high visibility and impact. At that time, the theologians then in the dialogue said there is enough theological agreement between the two traditions to permit eucharistic sharing in parishes where ecumenical relations have reached "such a degree of understanding and trust" to make that "an appropriate response to the gospel."
The Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue meets under the auspices of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations of the Episcopal Church and the Division of Theological Studies of the Lutheran Council in the USA. Besides the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Council includes the American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.
Co-chairing the sessions are Bishop William Weinhauer of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and Pastor Robert Wietelmann of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kettering, Ohio. Wietelmann is past bishop of the ALC Michigan District.
One of the dialogue participants, AELC New England Bishop Cyril Wismar, shared recent letters from Lutheran and Episcopal leaders in his area urging "at least one modest step" on the local level to foster Lutheran-Episcopal unity.
The four bishops and presidents suggested local meetings to study the lessons appointed for the Easter season, which are quite similar in new worship books for the two traditions.
Besides Wismar, the three writing their constituents were Bishop John Coburn, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts (the eastern portion of the state); President Eugene Brodeen, LCA New England Synod, and Bishop Harold Jansen, ALC Eastern District.
- Peter Day, retired ecumenical officer, New York
- Reginald Fuller, professor of New Testament, Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va.
- J. Ogden Hoffman, rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Folsom, Calif.
- William Petersen, associate professor of church history, Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wis.
- Howard Rhys, professor of New Testament, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.
- John Rodgers, president and dean, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, Ambridge, Pa.
- Louis Well, professor of liturgics, Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wis.
- William Weinhauer, bishop, Diocese of Western North Carolina, Black Mountain, N.C.
- William Norgren, associate ecumenical officer, Episcopal Church Center, New York
- Carl Bornmann, pastor, St. John's Lutheran Church, Luxenburg, Wis.
- Stephen Bremer, pastor, Lutheran Memorial Church, Madison, Wis.
- Robert Goeser, professor of historical theology, Pacific LTS, Berkeley, Calif.
- Jerald Joersz, assistant executive secretary, LCMS CTCR, St. Louis, Mo.
- Norman Nagel, dean of chapel, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.
- Ralph Quere, assistant professor of history and theology, Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa
- Frank Senn, assistant professor of liturgics, LSTC, Chicago, Ill.
- Richard Trost, pastor, Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Ore.
- Robert Wietelmann, pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kettering, Ohio; past bishop, ALC Michigan District, Detroit, Mich.
- Cyril Wismar, pastor, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Cornwall, Conn.; auxiliary bishop for the New England region, AELC ECS
(All but Peter Day are ordained.)
Sessions:
- Jan. 29-31, 1976 -- Alexandria
- Jan. 26-28, 1977 -- St. Louis
- Sept. 21-24, 1977 -- Sewanee
- Mar. 29 - Apr. 1, 1978 -- Columbus
- Sept. 20-23, 1978 -- Nashotah
- Jan. 24-27, 1979 -- Columbia
- Aug. 22-25, 1979 -- Sewanee
- Apr. 9-12, 1980 -- Ft. Wayne
- Nov. 5-8, 1980