Lamb of God Church in Fort Myers, Florida recently became the first federated Lutheran-Episcopal congregation in Florida with joint membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church USA.  It is only the second such federation in these two denominations in the nation.

The congregation was officially received by the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida on Oct. 9 at its 36th Annual Convention and will be recognized at next May's Assembly of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.

Documents legally forming the federated congregation were signed by Bishops representing the two denominations and by pastors and leaders of the church on Sept. 7.

"I see this as an incredible sign of hope," for the future of the Church, said Bishop John Lipscomb of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.  "This is a step in a dream I've had since I was 17," he added.

"I'm excited that we're living into the relationship we have" with the Episcopal Church, offered Bishop Edward Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. "We're blessed to have partners who can think in a creative way in how to do ministry and good stewardship, and not compromise who we are as people of God, but find ways to do mission."

What it means

The bylaws of the ELCA provide the structure for the merger. Simply put, a federated congregation is a single congregation that operates under the rules of two denominations that consider themselves to be in full communion with each other. The Lamb of God merger was made possible by the joint communion agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, titled "Called to Common Mission," which was approved by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA in 2000 and the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA in 2001.

In practice, a federated congregation enjoys "dual citizenship." As spelled out in the legal documents signed Sept. 7, Lamb of God will send voting delegates to both Lutheran synod assemblies meetings and Episcopal diocesan conventions and participate fully in the life of both denominations, including monetary support to both.

The 600-member congregation is currently served by an ELCA Pastor, the Rev. Walter Fohs, and an Episcopal priest, the Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman.  Any new clergy called to serve Lamb of God will have to be approved by both denominations; both styles of worship will also be made available each Sunday.

Four years in the making

Lamb of God Church was formed from two congregations that have been worshipping together since Dec. 31, 2000, when Episcopalians from the now-closed St. Joseph's Episcopal Church were invited to worship several blocks away at Lamb of God Lutheran Church.

At that time, St. Joseph's had been struggling to stay afloat. The idea of a merger came out of some friendly conversations between Pastor Fohs and the Rev. John Adler, who at the time was the interim vicar of St. Joseph's.

"It just made sense," Fohs said. "Why build two congregations that are a block or two away from other? Why replicate buildings and staff when we could do the same thing in the same place. It makes all the sense in the world."

"It's been a very long, gradual process that did not happen overnight," said Fohs. He applauded the congregation for the work it has done, but added, "It's also the result of a lot of other people buying into the vision."

The future, says Bishop Benoway, is exciting.

"I think it's also a challenge to us as we look at our theologies coming together, to see what is really important and what really isn't. You know you have to let some things go in this kind of situation, while holding tight to that which is most important to us in our faith. In one way it helps bring to the top that which is really important in theology and practice," he said.

Working together

This historic federation will be a unique practical test of the joint communion agreement between the Episcopal Church and the ELCA. "I think that what we are doing is saying very clearly that all parishioners have a common mission," said Bishop Lipscomb.

"The two churches bring in an enormous history on parallel tracks," he said. "It points to the fact that no one church or one denomination has a corner of the conversation, and as long as we sit at the table together, we will ultimately discover God's purpose for the Church."

Fohs said Lamb of God can be an example to Lutherans. "In a time when 'Called to Common Mission' is still not accepted in a lot of Lutheran communities, I think what we're doing proves to be a working example to say that we have not sold out; we have not lost our soul," he observed.

"We can live into what we say, when we talk about Christians doing things together," said Robbins-Penniman. "We will be doing things in a way that makes it possible for people to remember they are Christians first."