January 24, 2006

NEW YORK – In a culture that values consumerism, fears diversity, seeks unity, demands certainty, shuns ambiguity, accepts deception and is often defined by arrogance and dominance, how do churches today work together to live out their mission? That question was the focus of a sermon by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who addressed more than 200 Lutherans and Episcopalians here Jan. 18 at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Manhattan.

Hanson preached during a service that celebrated the relationship between the churches. It also celebrated the Rev. William Reed Huntington, a 19th century Episcopal priest who advocated for early church unity. The service was held during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Today's times are filled with challenges for Christians, Hanson said, and they are best embraced by "our understanding of the authority and interpretation of the Scriptures," Hanson said.

"With confidence, humility and courage, let us face these daunting challenges in God's mission for the life of the world," he said.

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, presided at the service.

"I'm here with joy and delight to give thanks to God for being ‘Called to Common Mission,'" said Hanson, referring to a five-year-old agreement between the ELCA and Episcopal Church that established a relationship of full communion. The agreement opened the way for cooperative mission efforts between the churches and mutual recognition of ordained ministers in settings of cooperative ministry.

In his sermon Hanson gave examples of cooperative ministry that developed since "Called to Common Mission" was adopted. The ELCA and the Episcopal Church are working together in education, campus ministry, disaster response, social ministry and in individual congregations among other ministries, Hanson said.

The ecumenical service was the annual commemoration of Huntington, who was rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Manhattan, and author of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1888, a document that laid the groundwork for ecumenical dialogue between the Episcopal Church and other Christian church bodies.

In addition to Hanson and Griswold, several top leaders of both church bodies in New York participated in the service, including the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod. After the service worshippers gathered for a question-and-answer session with Hanson.

ELCA News Service
Wendy Healy is director of communication for the Metropolitan New York Synod.