GS07 Report 13
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada & Anglican Church of Canada Joint Commission 2001 – 2007: “From Waterloo to Winnipeg”
Lutheran Members:
Michael Pryse (co-chair)
Cam Harder
Ilze Kuplens-Ewart
Sharon Villetard
Paul Johnson (staff)
Anglican Members:
Fred Hiltz (co-chair)
Richard Leggett
Eunice McMahon
Gay Richardson
Alyson Barnett-Cowan (staff)
Ecumenical Partner:
Sandra Beardsall (UCC Partner)
The members of the Joint Commission have met on eleven occasions since the ratification of the Waterloo Declaration of full communion between our two churches in July 2001. We have met on at least one occasion on the territory of each of the four ecclesiastical provinces of the Anglican Church of Canada and the five synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. These meetings have provided us with many opportunities to meet and worship with the people of our two churches: clergy, laity, faculty of our theological colleges, and denominational staff from each of our churches. We have had many first hand experiences of Full Communion as it has been lived out within our shared life.
In fulfilling its mandate to coordinate the implementation of the Waterloo Declaration, the Joint Commission continues to frame and review its work in light of the nine commitments of the Declaration and identifying areas where those commitments may have specific implications for our shared life and ministry.
Commitment 1: to welcome persons ordained in either of our churches to the office of bishop, priest/pastor or deacon to serve, by invitation and in accordance with any regulations which may from time to time be in force, in that ministry in the receiving church without re-ordination.
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Articulating protocols for clergy serving in one another’s churches
- Addressing shared ministry issues
- Addressing common discipline issues
- Determining eligibility for electoral processes in one another’s churches
Work accomplished:
- Prepared a document entitled Guidelines for Anglican and Lutheran Priests and Pastors Serving Appointments in Each Other’s Churches. The Guidelines were reviewed by the Joint Meeting of Bishops. The ELCIC National Church Council and the Anglican Council of General Synod have now approved these guidelines and made them available for general use.
- Sought ways to learn from the experiences of congregations that already serve in shared or collaborative ministries. Guidelines for Collaborative Ministries have been prepared to govern such shared ministry relationships.
- A Shared Ministries Task Force has been established by the ACC, ELCIC, United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
- An Ecumenical Shared Ministries Handbook is being developed by the task force. The Joint Commission contributed to the development of the Handbook.
- Each church has been asked to find a way within its legal system to create a category of ‘ecumenical shared ministries’ in which particular policies can apply that are not necessarily the same as for regular congregations.
- Shared Ministries have been discussed by the Joint Meeting of Bishops.
- Discipline issues are addressed in the Clergy Guidelines.
- Served as a body of advice to a bishop in one instance affecting both churches.
- Requested that our churches make the necessary constitutional and canonical changes to allow: a) for Anglican and Lutheran clergy serving in a congregation of the other church to be eligible for the same rights, responsibilities and privileges of clergy serving similar charges in their originating church, and b) to provide for parity in the eligibility of clergy for election to the office of bishop in either church. This work is progressing through due process in our respective bodies.
- Requested that the respective churches consider adopting interim measures to make such participation possible until constitutional and canonical changes have been made.
- ELCIC has made provision in its documents at both the national and synodical level to recognize full communion partners as eligible to serve on committees and relevant church bodies.
Suggestions for future work:
- Review Clergy Guidelines to ensure that they match practice.
- Continue to monitor and review the work of the Ecumenical Shared Ministries Task Force and review the Collaborative Ministry Guidelines for effectiveness.
- Develop guidelines for establishing new joint congregations.
- Remind bishops that the expertise of the Commission is available in situations that affect both churches.
- Ensure that processes for establishing eligibility for election and service in each other’s churches are established at all levels.
Commitment 2: to invite one another’s bishops to participate in the laying on of hands at the ordination of bishops as a sign of the unity and continuity of the Church, and to invite pastors and priests to participate in the laying on of hands at the ordination of pastors or priests in each other’s churches:
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Ensuring that invitations are issued in a timely and effective manner; publicizing the fact of such participation as effectively as possible
Work accomplished:
- Noted the high levels of shared participation in episcopal ordinations. To the best of our knowledge, all bishops ordained in our churches since July 2001 have been ordained with the participation and laying-on-of-hands by bishops of both churches.
Suggestions for future work:
- Remind diocesan and synodical bodies to invite full communion partners to participate in the ordination of presbyters and the ordination/consecration of deacons/diaconal ministers. The Commission further recommends that this commitment be extended to include the installation of pastors and celebrations of new ministries.
Commitment 3: to consult with one another regarding developments in our understanding of the ministry of all the baptized, including the ordained ministry
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Engaging in shared studies and reflections concerning ordered ministries
- Exploring the development of alternate forms of lay and ordained ministry
- Establishing a joint task group on confirmation
Work accomplished:
- Received documents on lay ministry formation from the ELCIC.
- Anglican participant serving on Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry, and Lutheran participant serving on Faith, Worship and Ministry
- Models of ‘mutual’ or ‘total’ ministry being considered by Anglican churches have been discussed at the Commission, but not in much detail. It was recognized that Anglicans and Lutherans are both struggling to provide ministry in remote areas; Anglicans tend to put a greater value on sacramental presidency while Lutherans tend to put a greater value on theological education and formation for preaching. This can result in different approaches, which can then lead to tensions between our churches. Continuing dialogue is critical.
- Established a joint task force to undertake a study of the theology and practice of confirmation in our two churches. It conducted a survey of understanding and practice and will bring questions to the two churches
Suggestions for future work:
- Remind churches that, on important issues affecting the life of both our churches, consultation needs to happen early in the process.
- Continue work on how to provide effective ministry in accordance with our theology and polity, and try to find solutions together.
- The Lutheran participant on Faith, Worship and Ministry needs a solid connection with theological education in the ELCIC.
- Continue work on forms of baptismal renewal, including confirmation, reception of new members, and affirmation of baptism.
Commitment 4: to work towards a common understanding of diaconal ministry
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Reviewing present status of diaconal ministry in our churches
- Developing shared standards for theological education and formation
- Engaging in consultation with ACC and ELCIC diaconal ministers
Work accomplished:
- Engaged the bishops of our churches in conversation regarding the diaconate on two occasions.
- Prepared a comparison of the rites of ordination and consecration in the two churches and identified significant areas of congruence.
- Surveyed deacons/diaconal ministers in the two churches regarding their call to, preparation for and experiences of diaconal ministry; a report arising from this survey was presented to the Fall 2006 joint meeting of the bishops of the two churches.
Suggestions for future work:
- Develop shared standards for theological education and formation
- Engage in consultation with ACC deacons and ELCIC diaconal ministers
- Continue consultation with the bishops in both churches
- Prepare a volume of essays on diaconal ministry in Canada
Commitment 5: to establish appropriate forms of collegial and conciliar consultation on significant matters of faith and order, mission and service
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Encouraging continued joint meeting of bishops
- Consultation with ACC and ELCIC bishops on issues of social justice in Canada
- Encouraging joint study days for clergy
- Encouraging development of provincial/synodical/diocesan implementation committees
- Taking action together on significant issues of church and society
Work accomplished:
- Lutherans participated in the 2003 ACC Ecumenical Strategy Consultation.
- Anglicans and Lutherans have sponsored regional stewardship conferences and the National Worship Conference (2004 and 2006).
- Anglicans and Lutherans are sponsoring the National Worship Conference (Montréal 2008) and anticipating the 2010 National Worship Conference (possibly in Vancouver).
- Anglican youth have been invited to the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG) in 2004 and 2006, and will continue to be invited to the CLYG.
- Joint study days have occurred in various locations across the country.
- The Primate and National Bishop issued a joint letter on poverty issues prior to the federal election.
- A Lutheran is serving on Partners in Mission and an Anglican has been appointed to the Program Committee for Mission in the World.
- Anglicans provided counsel and consultation on ELCIC/ELCA Renewing Worship project.
Suggestions for future work:
- Encourage bishops to invite clergy of each other’s church to attend clergy retreats and study conferences.
- Encourage all those holding such conferences to include partners from the other church in the planning and implementation of the conference.
- Seek further opportunities to speak as one through joint statements on matters of church and society.
- Consider establishing a shared national office.
- Encourage greater Anglican youth participation in the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering and Lutheran young adults in ‘Ask and Imagine’.
Commitment 6: to encourage regular consultation and collaboration among members of our churches at all levels, to promote the formulation and adoption of covenants for common work in mission and ministry, and to facilitate learning and exchange of ideas and information on theological, pastoral, and mission matters
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Developing guidelines for common worship
- Addressing shared ministry issues
- Encouraging more co-operation in theological education for ordained ministers
- Encouraging more co-operation between ACC/ELCIC committees at local levels
- Encouraging more co-operative work in new church development
- Developing a shared forum for theological inquiry
Work accomplished:
- Guidelines for Common Worship has been approved by the National Church Council and the Council of General Synod.
- A United Church partner has served as an observer on the Joint Commission.
- Surveyed the theological colleges of our churches and shared the collated materials with the Anglican Heads of Colleges and the meeting of Lutheran seminary presidents and bishops.
- Facilitated sessions with the heads of Anglican and Lutheran colleges and training programmes. Discussion included the following questions: (a) How can we prepare clergy in the context of full communion to serve in both churches? (b) What are we doing in lay formation generally? (c) What are we doing in diaconal formation?
- The fall 2006 joint session of the bishops discussed theological education in the two churches.
- Invitations have been sent to the presidents of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and Lutheran Theological Seminary (Saskatoon) to attend the next meeting of the Heads of Anglican Colleges.
Suggestions for future work:
- Convene a meeting of diocesan and synodical ecumenical officers.
- Encourage further collaborative efforts between Anglican and Lutheran theological institutions.
- Encourage the mutual use of clergy programmes such as ‘Fresh Start’ and ‘It’s Your Call’.
- Appoint a Lutheran member to the Primate’s Theological Commission.
- Appoint an Anglican member to the Faith, Order and Doctrine Committee.
- Invite relevant national staff persons to attend meetings of the Joint Commission when matters concerning their portfolios are discussed.
Commitment 7: to establish a Joint Commission to nurture our growth in communion, to coordinate the implementation of this Declaration, and report to the decision-making bodies of both our churches
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Continuing to work at implementing and evaluating our work
- Collecting and telling stories
- Ensuring that the Joint Commission meets on a regular basis with local representatives of our respective churches
Work accomplished:
- Made regular reports to our respective national judicatories as well as to joint meetings of the ACC House of Bishops/ELCIC Conference of bishops.
- Communicated with members our constituencies seeking first-hand stories related to our churches diaconal, confirmation and shared ministry experiences.
- Prepared a series of interpretive bulletins detailing experiences of Full Communion and made them available via our churches’ websites.
- Worked to ensure that each of its meetings includes encounters with local expressions of our respective churches.
Suggestions for future work:
- Encourage further collaboration and partnership at the congregational level in shared worship and service.
- Add to the Joint Commission the representatives of the churches that serve on each other’s executive councils.
- Develop a joint web site.
- Meet more regularly in Toronto and Winnipeg and encourage more involvement by national staff as appropriate.
- Put greater emphasis on encouraging our two churches to engage more on peace and social justice issues, to strengthen our public witness at every level of the churches.
- Involve of one or more deacons/diaconal ministers in the Joint Commission.
Commitment 8: to hold joint meetings of national, regional and local decision-making bodies wherever practicable
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Encouraging joint meeting of national and diocesan/synodical councils
- Encouraging a shared 2007 General Synod/National Convention
- Promoting collaboration between staff in all expressions of our churches
Work accomplished:
- The bishops of our respective churches continue to meet with one another on an annual basis and have, to this point, made sure to include a significant portion of agenda time to addressing items identified by the Joint Commission.
- The Joint Commission has asked our respective national councils to consider the possibility of holding a joint meeting. To date, this has not occurred.
- Synodical and Diocesan staff teams have been meeting in a variety of contexts.
- Planned the Joint Day for the ACC General Synod and the ELCIC National Convention in June of 2007.
Suggestions for future work:
- Encourage our churches to collaborate more deliberately at the national and synodical/diocesan levels. This could include the use of shared staff and establishing joint working groups to work on particular programme initiatives.
- Make a commitment to having a joint meeting of the Anglican Council of General Synod and the ELCIC National Church Council once every three years.
- Encourage our synods, dioceses and congregations to have full communion partner representatives on their respective synod/diocesan/parish councils.
Commitment 9: to continue to work together for the full visible unity of the whole Church of God
Action items identified by the Joint Commission:
- Inviting Anglican participation in the LWF Assembly in Winnipeg
- Communicating with other ecumenical colleagues
- Communicating more effectively to the wider community
- Including an ecumenical partner on the Joint Commission
Work accomplished:
- Anglican representatives played a significant role in the planning and execution of the LWF Assembly in Winnipeg, July 2003.
- ELCIC sponsored an ACC First Nations partner in attending the LWF consultation in Lapland (Norway) in 2006, “An Indigenous Communion.”
- Welcomed the proposal of the Inter-Anglican Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations that two representatives from each of the churches in full communion with Anglican provinces be invited to the Lambeth Conference.
- Representatives of the Commission have been appointed to the membership of the Anglican Lutheran International Commission. The 2007 meeting of this commission will take place in Canada.
- Held a joint meeting with the U.S. based Lutheran Episcopal Co-coordinating Committee in February 2005. We have each invited representatives of each body to attend one another’s subsequent meetings.
- Ecumenical officers and other personnel from ACC, ELCIC, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Episcopal Church (TEC) have met on three occasions to discuss issues around the compatibility of our two full communion agreements and common mission.
- The United Church of Canada supported our work through the participation of an official representative to our Joint Commission.
- Worked in support of initiatives that might lead to the establishment of a full communion relationship with the Moravian Church.
- Discussed the possibility of having a Lutheran partner added to the Anglican/Roman Catholic Dialogue.
- A number of events were held across the country in celebration of Five Years of Full Communion in November 2006.
Suggestions for future work:
- That our churches seek new ways of providing a common public face through the use of shared communication technology, congregational signage, print and broadcast media. “Lutherans and Anglicans – Churches in Full Communion”.
- Encourage continued work by ACC, ELCIC, ELCA, and TEC to effect full interchangeability of clergy and collaboration on mission and programmes
- Contribute to the work of the Anglican Lutheran International Commission.
- Consider the implications of the Waterloo Accord for other ecumenical dialogues and agreements.
In Conclusion
The members of the Joint Commission are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the shared life of our respective churches through the work of this commission.
In July 2001 our churches took a bold and decisive and step toward advancing the common mission in which we have been called to serve. Significant and decisive steps have been taken since that time. In November 2006 a number of events were held across the country in thanksgiving for five years of Full Communion. During the ACC General Synod and the ELCIC National Convention in June of 2007 in Winnipeg, both churches will come together for a joint day of worship and study celebrating six years of Full Communion.
We note, however, that a great deal more remains to be accomplished. As such, we recommend that:
- A new Joint Commission be constituted for a six year term to seek greater fulfillment of the mandate first given to us in 2001, specifically, “to nurture our growth in communion, to coordinate the implementation of this Declaration, and report to the decision-making bodies of both our churches.”
- That our respective churches commit themselves to engaging a more ambitious agenda toward implementation of the Waterloo Declaration.
- That this report and its suggestions for future work be commended to the next Joint Commission for their consideration and action.
“We rejoice in our Declaration as an expression of the visible unity of our churches in the one Body of Christ. We are ready to be co-workers with God in whatever tasks of mission serve the Gospel. We give glory to God for the gift of unity already ours in Christ, and we pray for the fuller realization of this gift in the entire Church.”
Waterloo Declaration 2001
Bishop Michael Pryse and Bishop Fred Hiltz
on behalf of the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission