April 6, 2005

Stronger interest in starting new congregations and mission outreach was a dominant topic in discussions among leaders of the two largest U.S. Lutheran church bodies meeting March 30 in St. Louis.

Twice a year, representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod meet as the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC). The two denominations work together in disaster response, world relief, military chaplaincy, and various social-ministry capacities.

Reporting on priorities for missions and higher education set by the Synod at its convention last July, LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick referred to "Ablaze!" – the convention-approved movement to tell 100 million people worldwide about Jesus Christ by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. He said the Synod's colleges and seminaries have been asked to help the effort by offering special courses equipping pastors and other professional church workers to provide mission leadership.

Kieschnick noted that the Synod's partner churches overseas will play an integral role in "Ablaze!" Meanwhile, in the United States, the Synod is encouraging partnerships between congregations and districts to start new congregations. "Among our district presidents, I see a healthy amount of energy," Kieschnick said.

"The themes are similar," observed ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. "As I move around our church body, I think we're claiming the ‘evangelical' in our name." He said the ELCA sees itself as enabling people to be in mission locally.

The committee members also noted similar approaches among their regional judicatories to train lay ministers. Working under the supervision of ordained clergy, the lay workers often serve in rural congregations and among ethnic populations that cannot afford a full-time pastor.

The committee also reviewed the supply of pastors in their respective church bodies. Dr. Lowell Almen, ELCA secretary, said 1,252 candidates are available this spring for ordained ministry in the ELCA. He noted that seminary graduates are older, with the average age being 40.5, compared with 34.9 in 1990. He added that the ELCA Board of Pensions estimates that 6,000 active pastors will be retiring in the next 15 years.

Dr. C. William Hoesman, LCMS Michigan District president and chairman of the LCMS Council of Presidents, reported 165 seminary graduates available for calls this spring. The Synod currently has about 800 vacancies, he said, with some 400 of those congregations actively seeking pastors.

ELCA representatives previewed the ELCA Churchwide Assembly next August. Around the theme "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever," Almen said that key issues will include a worship book and other resources, proposals for constitution and bylaw revisions, strategies for mission work in Africa and the Middle East, and recommendations from the ELCA Studies on Sexuality Task Force.

The CLC discussions also dealt with relationships with overseas church bodies, budgets, health care and retirement programs for church workers, and dialogs with other denominations.

On March 29, most of the CLC members also participated in a theological discussion, hearing presentations on the report and recommendations of the ELCA sexuality task force and on LCMS guidelines for service of women in congregational offices. The presenters were Dr. Stanley Olson, executive director of the ELCA Division for Ministry, and Dr. Samuel Nafzger, executive director of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

Olson said two recommendations from the task force – to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreement and to continue to respect the pastoral guidelines of a 1993 statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops – have received general affirmation. Being widely discussed is a third recommendation that the ELCA "may choose to refrain from disciplining those who for the sake of conscience and for the sake of outreach ministry and the commitment to continuing dialogue, call or approve partnered gay or lesbian candidates."

During those discussions, LCMS representatives provided a response to the report and recommendations of the task force. The response said the LCMS sees Scriptural authority as the foundational issue on same-sex unions. "The report does not speak clearly and authoritatively regarding homosexual behavior and the ordination of those who are openly involved in such behavior," the LCMS response said. "This goes contrary to the historic and universal understanding of the Christian Church regarding what the Holy Scriptures teach about homosexual behavior as contrary to God's will and about the Biblical qualifications for holding the pastoral office."

In addition to Kieschnick, Hoesman, and Nafzger, LCMS participants in the CLC meeting were Dr. William Diekelman, LCMS first vice president; Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig, LCMS secretary; and Dr. Thomas Kuchta, treasurer and administrative officer of the Board of Directors. Also participating in the theological talks were Dr. Walter A. Maier III, professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Rev. Ralph Blomenberg, a parish pastor from Seymour, Ind.

Other ELCA representatives on the CLC were Carlos Pea, ELCA vice president; Dr. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration; Dr. Randall Lee, director of the Department for Ecumenical Affairs; and Dr. Roy Riley, bishop of the New Jersey Synod and chair of the Conference of Bishops. Participating in the theological discussions were Olson and Rev. JoAnn A. Post, a parish pastor from Platteville, Wis.

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