General Synod 2007

GS07 Report 13
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada & Anglican Church of Canada Joint Commission 2001 – 2007: “From Waterloo to Winnipeg”

up to Convening Circular
^-- up to Reports

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

Commitment 4: to work towards a common understanding of diaconal ministry

Action items identified by the Joint Commission:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

Commitment 8: to hold joint meetings of national, regional and local decision-making bodies wherever practicable

Action items identified by the Joint Commission:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

Work accomplished:

Suggestions for future work:

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:

  1. 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.”
  2. That our respective churches commit themselves to engaging a more ambitious agenda toward implementation of the Waterloo Declaration.
  3. 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

 


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