January 25, 2010

CHICAGO (ELCA) – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in America will celebrate their 10-year anniversary as full communion partners Jan. 27. To honor the collaborative ministries of the denominations, a reception and service will be held that day at Augsburg Lutheran Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.

The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a proposal to enter into the relationship with a 98.9 percent vote approval. In 1998 the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church accepted the proposal in separate votes. In 2007 the ELCA entered into a full communion relationship with the Moravian Church's Eastern West Indies Province.

Leaders and members of the denominations will be attending the worship service. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, will preside and the Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Wayne Burkette, president, Provincial Elders' Conference, Moravian Church North America, Southern Province, will be preaching.

"In our 10 years together we've addressed issues that are making a difference in people's lives, from training seminarians together to addressing topics of racial discrimination," said Michael R. Trice, associate executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations.

As the denominations continue to discern their future together, Trice said the churches are committed to "increase structural unity, involving everything from HIV and AIDS education to starting new congregations, from global mission training to ministry with youth and young adults."

The Rev. Roy Ledbetter, a Moravian pastor living in the St. Louis area, has served alongside members of St. Phillip's Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis, for about seven years, according to the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, bishop of the ELCA Central States Synod, Kansas City, Kan. St. Phillip's is a congregation of the ELCA.

"Pastor Ledbetter is a God-send. He has been a good colleague in ministry in the St. Louis area. I know that people love him dearly and are deeply grateful for his pastoral ministry," said Mansholt.

Augsburg Lutheran and the Southern Province of the Moravian Church together have provided funds to address the issues of youth suicide and alcoholism, said the Rev. Ronald A. Rinn, pastor of Augsburg Lutheran.

Rinn said funds were raised for the Moravian Church's Alaska Province and the ELCA Alaska Synod to support their continued dialogue.

"We're pleased to host the worship anniversary celebration," added Rinn, who presented the proposals for the full communion relationship at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. He said the first celebration of the relationship took place at Augsburg Lutheran on Jan. 27, 2000.

In addition to worship and fellowship, the Lutheran-Moravian Coordinating Committee (LMCC) will meet Jan. 27-28 to evaluate the 10-year anniversary and plan for the future. The meeting will take place at the Home Moravian Church, Winston-Salem.

Information about the ELCA and the Moravian Church is at http://www.ELCA.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion/Moravian-Church.aspx, on the ELCA's Web site.

ELCA News Service