Minutes ofThe Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee

February 3-4, 2003

Austin, Texas, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest and Lutheran Special Program of the Southwest

Present: Episcopalians: The Very Rev. Donald Brown, Co-Chair; Bishop Leo Frade; the Rev. Al Moss; the Rev. Grant Abbott; and Bishop Christopher Epting, staff  Lutherans: Ms. Terry Bowes; Bishop Ron Warren; the Rev. Greg Villalon; the Rev. Norm Wahl; and the Rev. Randy Lee, staff

Arriving late due to bad weather: Lutherans: The Rev. Dr. Duane Larson, Co-Chair; and Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl

Absent: Nancy Curtis, Emily Perow, Carolyn Tanner Irish, Midge Roof

The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. Prof. Wayne Menking led a tour of the campus and gave an explanation of how the Lutherans and Episcopalians work together at the Seminary.

Discussion of agenda adjustment

Terry Bowes offered opening Prayer.

Those members present gave personal reports about what has been happening in their lives since the Committee’s last meeting

There was a lengthy discussion of the issue of lay presidency at the Eucharist and how the practice differs in both churches.  The discussion also covered issues related to the larger context in which the church finds itself today and how that conflict affects the issue of lay presidency.  The Committee hoped this discussion would continue.

There was considerable discussion of a proposed canon (rule) for the Episcopal Church that would allow bishops in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to ordain in the Episcopal Church.  As a result of this discussion a motion was put forward as a recommendation from this committee to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations of the Episcopal Church that this proposal be withdrawn for the time being.  The motion was moved, seconded, and passed.

Dr. Carol Worthing, Director of the Texas Ecumenical Conference, spoke to the group on ecumenical work in the State of Texas.

Al Moss led a discussion of the LECC meeting scheduled for June 2004, Chicago, in conjunction the annual meeting of the National Association of Episcopal Historians and Archivists.  To take advantage of this occasion the LECC meeting will run an extra day.

These, then, are the forthcoming meeting dates and locations:

June 9-11, 2003                 St. Paul & Minneapolis

February 1-4, 2004            Atlanta

June 20-23, 2004               Chicago

February 6-8, 2005            Las Vegas

June 12-15, 2005               Seattle

February 5-7, 2006            Washington, D.C.

The question of terms for LECC members was raised.  Present members are committed through 2004 at which time terms will be set.  The term will be for three years, with the possibility of a second term, if it is so desired.

The question was then raised as to which denomination is in charge of which LECC meetings.  The decision of the Committee was that Lutherans would take responsibility for the winter meetings and Episcopalians for the spring meetings.

Bishop Epting led a discussion on diaconal ministries in both churches, presenting a working paper by a group representing both churches: Sr. Nora Frost, Deaconness Community of the ELCA; the Rev. Bud Holland, Episcopal Church Center; Madelyn Herman Busse, Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA; the Rev. Lynne Grifo, Episcopal Church Center; the Rev. Susan Watson Epting, Episcopal deacon; and the Rev. Richard Bruesehoff, Division for Ministry, ELCA.

How each church receives confirmed members from one church into the other was discussed.  There is a common resolution working its way through both churches to ensure that the practice similar for both churches.

One-third of the bishops in the ELCA have now been installed in the historic episcopate.

The Committee recommends that the Episcopal Presiding Bishop make sure that Lutheran Bishops are invited to participate in Episcopal consecration services.  Bp. Epting will check on this.

There was discussion of the ELCA by-law permitting exceptional ordinations.

As of February 2003, there have been three exceptional ordinations out of over 400 ordinations, fewer than 1% of ordinations.

There has been some concern over exceptional ordinations expressed through the Standing Committees of some dioceses of the Episcopal Church.  The Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations has prepared a resolution for this summer’s General Convention of the Episcopal Church that will call for a committee of the House of Bishops in conjunction with SCER to report on these exceptional ordinations.

The Committee received a copy of the “Admonition for the Sake of the True Peace and Unity of the Church” prepared by the Theological Advisory Board for the WordAlone Network.

The Committee also received a copy of the report prepared by the Rev. Jon Enslin, interim ecumenical officer of the ELCA, on the implementation of the CCM and its impact on the work of the staff of the headquarters of the ELCA.

There was discussion about the chaplain shortage in the United States military services and how full communion might help with the situation.

There

was discussion about the authorizing of clergy of one denomination serving in the other to sit with voice and vote in the conventions of the church in which they are serving.  According to the chancellor of the Episcopal Church there is nothing in the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church that precludes this.   The ELCA has already taken action that makes this possible.

Meeting adjourned for the day.

Tuesday

Present: Duane; Don; Terry; Leo; Ron; Randy; Chris; Greg; Grant; Andrea; and Norm

Bp. Ron Warren offered opening prayer

Co-chair Duane Larson led a discussion on the history of the Hispanic Theological Union.  Wartburg Seminary of the ELCA, of which Dr. Larson is president, and Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago supervise and support the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest.

The LSPS and Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest are now working together in Austin, Texas.

The Executive Director, Wayne Menking, of LSPS and Dean Titus Pressler of ETSS, met with the committee to discuss their cooperative ministry.

Dean Menking went first.

• He has been in Austin for 18 months.
• He spoke about cooperative learning experiences that take place, such as those that happened this past January term.
• The two programs work to preserve their unique identities as institutions and denominations and also to learn to work together in common mission.
• Students share common faculty.
• About 50% of courses taken by Lutheran students are through ETSS.
• LSPS students are required to take Spanish as part of their program and to take part in cross-cultural experiences.
• Worship is done together and apart. 

Dean Pressler:

• Unity without union is the principle the two schools use.
• The seminaries work hard to train students for the future, but not for an ecumenical church that does not yet exist.
• There is a possibility that Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary may join with LSPS and ETSS in the future.
• Enrollment at the two schools:
• ETSS:  65 M.Div.  55 M.A.  130 total (5 are Hispanic or Latino)
• LSPS:  22 M.Div.  4 TEAM    26 total (4 are Hispanic or Latino)

Discussion:

• LSPS is working toward a Spanish-speaking  M.Div, but it will still require students to have cross-cultural experiences and understanding.
• The two schools have learned that developing a Hispanic program must work its way from the bottom up and not from the top down.  They have been using a foundation grant to develop their Hispanic program.
• There was discussion of the policies and practices around sexual orientation at both seminaries.
• What is the impact of Full Communion?
• CCM helps both institutions to see the importance of their mission focus and makes them more accountable to one another, especially when the work gets hard.
• CCM highlights the cooperative work of LSPS and ETSS and opens more options for the training and employment of their students.

Possible items for June meeting’s agenda:

• Debriefing the discussion on theological discussion begun in Austin
• Cooperative work with Native Americans
• Lutherans serving as leaders of ECUSA parishes (Roger Claxton as a possibility)
• Students in diaconal ministry program
• Mission emphasis
• President Tiede could be asked to speak.
• Update on items coming up at the ECUSA General Convention in July

Respectfully submitted, 

Grant Abbott and Norm Wahl, acting secretaries