By Linda Bloom*
August 20, 2009 | MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS)

Celebrating with a Charles Wesley hymn, the largest Lutheran body in the United States entered into full communion with The United Methodist Church.

Delegates to the churchwide assembly of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sang “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Aug. 20 after voting 958-51 in support of the historic agreement.

After the vote, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson hugged Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and thanked all who had labored in dialogue between the religious traditions founded by towering figures in Christian history – Martin Luther and John Wesley.

“You have taken up centuries of differences and found centuries of commonalities,” he declared.

United Methodists last year gave their overwhelming approval to the agreement in an 864-19 vote at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the first such agreement for United Methodists. The United Methodist Church has almost 8 million members in the United States and 11.5 million members worldwide.

Full communion means that each church acknowledges the other as a partner in the Christian faith, recognizes the authenticity of each other’s baptism and Eucharist, observes the validity of their respective ministries and is committed to working together toward greater unity.

Such a relationship, according to the United Methodist Book of Discipline, means differences between the two denominations “are not church dividing.”

Promoting evangelism

Before discussion on the vote began, Palmer told the Lutheran body that he considered their bilateral engagement to be “deeply evangelistic work” that helps fulfill the desire of Jesus “that we might be one in order that the world might believe.”

His audience appeared to agree. A motion to delay the vote until 2011 and refer it back to Hanson’s office was soundly defeated. Several delegates then rose and enthusiastically called for its passage.

Bishop Stephen Talmage, Grand Canyon Synod, told delegates that he was baptized in The United Methodist Church, where his sister remains an active member. But as the head of a large, rural territory, his interest in the full communion agreement is more than personal.

“This agreement … will allow us to provide a pastoral presence, pastoral ministry in places that are hard to serve,” he said.

In some locations, United Methodist and Lutheran pastors already are serving in each other's congregations. The agreement provides official backing and expands such opportunities.

Bishop Callon Holloway, Southern Ohio Synod, agreed that a united presence is a stronger presence. “The Lutherans in southern Ohio are in a sea of Methodists … and we are swimming together well,” he said. “There is work we could not do without our colleagues.”

Steven Chapman, a layperson from the Northwest Washington Synod, wanted to know what United Methodists would bring to a potluck supper.

Minnesota United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck stepped up to the microphone to reply. “I think we have the same recipe books,” she quipped, drawing loud applause.

Mission plans

Lutheran delegates also approved the establishment of a joint commission to implement the agreement, including assisting joint planning for mission and developing worship materials to celebrate full communion.

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Palmer referred to the vote when he preached at a communion service earlier in the day. “Please know of our love and our gratitude for the partnership we already share,” he said.

He expressed admiration for the “singular grace” of Lutheran Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, who had preached at last year’s United Methodist General Conference, and amusement over how similar the Lutheran assembly proceedings seemed to United Methodist legislative meetings.

“If I close my eyes – except for, say, the occasional references to Luther rather than Wesley – I’ve been here before,” Palmer said. “Thanks for making me feel at home.”

Palmer’s sermon focused on Jesus washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper as a way of showing his love for them and the invitation that action holds for Christians to “bring alongside our creeds, our deeds.”

Instead of “pining away” for the golden era when mainline denominations dominated society, Christians need to take hold of this call to action. Deeds must illuminate the words that Christians use to define their mission, the bishop said.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Audio

Bishop Palmer's speech

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Resources

ELCA – Bilateral Conversations

Commission on Christian Unity

By Water and the Spirit

This Holy Mystery

Interdenominational Cooperation Fund