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Office of Ecumenical & Interreligious Relations
The Episcopal Church (Anglican Communion)
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Lutherans grant first exception to policy requiring ordination of clergy by bishops
By James Solheim
2002-173
7/10/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
A bishop in the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has granted the first exception to a policy that only bishops ordain clergy, a key component of the 'full communion' agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Chris Boerger of Seattle granted the exemption to Daniel D. Shaw, who graduated recently from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and will be ordained by the Rev. Richard Foege, pastor of the Tacoma congregation where Shaw was baptized and confirmed. Boerger will attend the ordination 'but as a pastor of the ELCA, not as a participant in the service.'
The ELCA's Churchwide Assembly adopted a by-law amendment on ordination in 2001, allowing a synodical bishop in 'unusual circumstances' to authorize another pastor of the church to preside at an ordination. Called to Common Mission, the full communion agreement between the two churches, directs that 'a bishop shall regularly preside and participate in the laying-on-of-hands at the ordination of all clergy.'
At the time, Lutheran Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said that the by-law meant that the church 'recognized the desire for unity within the ELCA without diminishing our commitment to full communion.' He added, 'I trust this ordination will be a significant healing step for those in the ELCA who continue to express theological opposition' to some provisions of CCM, 'even as we build upon the new opportunities for shared mission with out full communion partners.'
The ELCA is also in full communion with three churches of the Reformed tradition--the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church of America, and the United Church of Christ.
As required by the by-law, Boerger consulted his synodical council, the presiding bishop, several pastors in his synod and Bishop Vincent Warner of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. Hanson said that Boerger had exercised 'thoughtful and pastoral leadership in granting this request,' as well as 'respect for the conscience of the applicant and the effective ministering of the calling congregation, without diminishing his strong ecumenical leadership.'
'Bishop Boerger was forthright and honest from the outset,' said Shaw, who will serve a parish in Kent, Washington, that has also expressed opposition to the ordination requirements in CCM. He said that ordination by a bishop is a human tradition and 'human traditions do not constitute or make the church. Rather, the church is a creature of the Word and sustained by that Word only.' To make ordination by a bishop a requirement 'is simply to abrogate the Word from its rightful place, which is the center.'
Reaction to the by-law on exceptions was not enthusiastic among Episcopalians. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold said that he would watch and see how often the by-law was invoked, but he admitted that the ELCA's decision could complicate implementation of the full communion agreement. At its spring 2000 meeting in Lake Arrowhead, California, the House of Bishops pointed out that Lutheran clergy ordained by someone other than a bishop would not be interchangeable in Episcopal parishes.
Bishop Christopher Epting, the church's deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, said that many Episcopalians would be 'deeply saddened by this action,' regarding it as 'a unilateral change in an ecumenical agreement that has serious implications.' He also said that 'if such exceptions became frequent, the General Convention will want to review whether or not we really are in full communion with the ELCA.'
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