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Lutherans, Episcopalians Share Rite Celebrating Ecumenical Accord

Episcopal News Service. January 13, 1983 [83016]

WASHINGTON (DPS, Jan. 20) -- Episcopalians and Lutherans -- nearly 2,500 strong -- were led in worship by the Episcopal Church presiding bishop and the president bishops of three Lutheran denominations Jan. 16 in a service celebrating a radical new step in ecumenical relations.

Presiding Bishop John M. Allin and Washington Episcopal diocesan Bishop John T. Walker were joined at the high altar of the National Cathedral by Bishop James R. Crumley of the Lutheran Church in America, Bishop David Preus of the American Lutheran Church and Bishop William Kohn of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches for a shared celebration of the Eucharist that would have been impossible before September of last year.

Although far from the first such celebration, the Washington service marked the first time that the heads of the four Church bodies stood together at the altar and thus symbolized the full range and implication of the Interim Sharing agreement that passed the governing bodies of the four last September.

Preceded by a congregation that included clergy, choirs and lay leaders of all the participating churches drawn from area parishes, the four Church leaders processed into the cathedral to each take a significant role in the service: Kohn was gospellor; Crumley preached; Preus led the Prayers of the People and Allin was chief celebrant at the Eucharist.

Rite II from the Book of Common Prayer was used for the liturgy with sung portions according to music from the Lutheran Book of Worship. The Scripture readings were drawn from the common lectionary shared by the four and the first two were read by Mrs. Thomas Baerwald, general secretary of the American Lutheran Church and by Dr. Charles R. Lawrence, president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal General Convention. Hymns and anthems were drawn from both traditions.

In his sermon, Crumley likened the Interim Sharing agreement to a "plunge into some icy waters" and added that he is convinced "we will find it refreshing and life-giving."

Crumley described the Church as a "gift -- not reward, grace, or merit -- with a mission prescribed by the Lord, not an agenda constructed through our deliberations."

"To insist that the things on which we disagree are of greater significance than those on which we agree is to avoid Christ's intention for us," he continued.

Before the service, the bishops participated in a panel discussion videotaped for cable television by the communication staffs of the Washington Cathedral and the Episcopal Church Center. Charles Austin, religion staff writer for the New York Times, served as moderator.

During the discussion, Allin pointed out that Episcopal-Lutheran ecumenical progress has been motivated in large part by a "desire on the part of all to meet more effectively the needs of suffering human beings throughout the world."

Crumley expressed a concern for the need to have mutual recognition "of the validity of the ministers" by Episcopalians and Lutherans alike, one of the problems that has yet to be worked out before full intercommunion can be achieved.

In response to a question from Austin about Episcopalians and Lutherans who might not accept the agreement, Preus reiterated that no one should participate in a joint Episcopal-Lutheran Eucharist who cannot in good conscience do so.

The bishops expressed the hope that the Washington service would be a model for similar services in other places, particularly by Episcopal and Lutheran congregations in local communities.

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