Evangelical Lutheran Church Declaration: No longer Church-dividing Issues with Catholic Church on Many Topics

In what can only be described as an historic event of incalculable consequence, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) declared that "there are no longer church-dividing issues" with regard to many doctrinal issues with the Roman Catholic Church.  The declaration was passed by a vote of 931-9 by the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly which took place on August 10 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

The ELCA is one of the 10 largest Protestant denominations in the United States with more than 3.7 million members spread throughout the country and the Carribean Islands.

Remarkably the story has garnered little, if any, attention in any of the Catholic periodicals or publications which I frequently peruse.  Yet, the implications and possible consequences of such a declaration are truly astounding.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton stated that "though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity...."  That pathway to unity includes the 32 "Statements of Agreement" which no longer divide ELCA Lutherans and Roman Catholics on issues regarding the nature of the ecclesial community, sacred ministry and the Eucharist.  These "statements" previously had been affirmed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

This declaration is the significant next step toward unity between the ELCA and the Catholic Church following the release in 1999 of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification", a statement agreed upon by both the ELCA and the Holy See.  It should likewise be noted that Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation issued a joint statement in 2013, "From Conflict to Communion", whose wisdom bears the fruit of Pope St. John XXIII's constant call that Christian churches should focus more on what they hold in common than on what divides them.

Pope Francis has had much to say about ecumenical and interreligious dailogue and communion.  It is noteworthy that the Holy Father will travel to Sweden this Fall where he will preside at a joint prayer service with members of the Lutheran Church.  Among the many controversies which the Pope has caused during his tenure as Supreme Pontiff has been his suggestion that Lutherans could receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church stating, "life is greater than explanations and interpretations."  Perhaps, this declaration will make that possibility even more a reality.

As I write this posting, I wonder and pray at the same time.  Is it possible that we may see in our lifetime the unification of these two religious communities which have been divided, oftentimes with great rancor, for more than 500 years?  The scandal of the division of churches has weakened the proclamation of the Christian faith for centuries.  Christian churches of all denominations have been less effective witness to Christ by these divisions, willfully ignoring the Lord's admonission, "by this they will know you are My disciples, that you love one another."  In these many statements of agreement between Lutherans and Catholics can be found a great moment of promise.

May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire church leaders of good faith and good will to work together to ensure that arrival of that great moment when there truly will be "one flock and one Shepherd".