LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 95

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 95

realized as the participating churches implement their de-
cisions at various levels. the commission wishes to underline
the significance of this agreement from the standpoint of inter-
Lutheran relationships. Contrary to historic Lutheran prac-
tice, which these churches have themselves recognized in the
Galesburg Rule (This rule, adopted by the General Council in
1875, reads “Lutheran Pulpits for Lutheran Ministers Onlvy-
Lutheran Altars for Lutheran Communicant Only’). the adop-
tion of a relationship of “Interim Sharing of the Eucharist”
with the Episcopal Church represents the application at the
church level of an “open” communion policy, a practice already
permitted in the Statement on Communion Practices adopted
by the ALC and LCA in 1978. Most significantly. this decision
confirms what has become evident in discussion in recent
years. namely. that the participating Lutheran churches do
not regard agreement in the “Gospel and all its articles” as a
necessary requirement for declarations of altar and pulpit
fellowship. It is to be noted, for example, that the relationship
of interim sharing of the Eucharist was established despite the
fact that the Episcopal Church has not granted final recog-
nition of the Eucharist and of the ministry in those Lutheran
churches which have not submitted themselves to the historic
episcopate in apostolic succession. That such final recognition
has not yet been granted by the Episcopal Church is indicated
by the fact that ordained clergy participating in “a common,
joint celebration of the Eucharist” are to be viewed as ex-
pressing their willingness “symbolically to stand together at
the altar, although not yet in place of each other there”
(Ecumenical Bulletin, Nov.—Dec. 1982. p. 5). Yet it is stated
“that the basic teaching of each respective church is consonant
with the Gospel and is sufficiently compatible with the teach-
ing of this church that a relationship of Interim Sharing of the
Eucharist is hereby established... .” (ef. Lutheran-Episcopal
Relations: An Agreement Approved by the Eleventh Biennial
Convention of the Lutheran Church in America in Louisville,
Kentucky. Sept. 83—10,1982)

While differing understandings of the nature and basis of
church fellowship have long been present among Lutherans in
this country. the recent actions of the ALC, AELC, and LCA
reveal that official sanction has now been given to a new role
for theological consensus in the establishment of church
fellowship relationships.

2. Lutheran-Baptist

The Lutheran-Baptist dialog has been held under the
auspices of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. and the North
American Baptist Fellowship. The final two sessions of this
dialog were held at Divine Word Seminary. Techny. Il.. April
30—May 2, 1981, and Caraway Conference Center of the North
Carolina Baptist Convention at Greensboro. N.C... Nov. 12—15,
1981. Serving as LCMS representatives on this dialog were Dr.
C. George Fry and Dr. James G. Manz.

At the final meeting three “Common Statements” were
accepted and “recommendations” made. The two LCMS repre-
sentatives abstained from voting on the “Common State-
ments.” These statements dealt with the topics (1) “Divine
Initiative and Human Response,” (2) “Baptism and the The-
ology of the Child,” and (3) “Church and Ministry.” The
following recommendations grew out of the dialog: (1) The
Baptist World Alliance and the Lutheran World Federation are
invited to investigate the possibility of international dialogs of
Luthe- 1s and Baptists, building upon the work of the North
American dialogs; (2) if an international dialog is impossible.
then one between Baptists and Lutherans should be held in
Europe. The members of the dialog discussed the possibility of
continuing the dialog and suggested topics such as the au-
thority of the New Testament for practice. the place of creeds
and confessions, the Lord’s Supper, immersion, church and
state. the nature of the church and polity, and faith.

The papers developed during the course of the Lutheran-
Baptist dialog have been published in the American Baptist
Quarterly (December 1982).

3. Lutheran-Roman Catholic

The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialog meets two times per
year under the auspices of Lutheran World Ministries and the
National Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops. Bishop

Austin Murphy and Dr. George Anderson serve as joint
chairmen. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is present
by invitation of Lutheran World Ministries. The topic for recent
meetings of the dialog has been the doctrine of justification.
The last two meetings of the dialog have been devoted to the
draft of a document which is to be presented to the church
bodies. Itis anticipated that the final form of the document will
be ready by the end of 1983.

LCMS representatives serving on the dialog have been Dr.
John F. Johnson, St. Petersburg, Fla.. and Dr. Fred Kramer.
Springfield, Tl. Dr. Kramer. who has been a participant in
these discussions since their beginning in 1965, has recently
submitted his resignation.

The dialog has met three times this biennium: Daylesford
Abbey, Paoli. Pa., Sept. 24—27, 1981: University of Southern
Mississippi, Gulfport, Miss., February 18—21. 1982: and Sea-
men’s Church Institute. New York City, Sept. 23—26, 1982.
Meetings of the dialog continue to provide an arena for serious
theological discussion of issues which have divided the two
churches since the Reformation era.

4. Lutheran-Reformed

The third series of conversations in the Lutheran-Reformed
dialog began Oct. 3—4, 1981, in Newark, N.J. Subsequent
discussions took place March 25—27, 1982, at Glenview, Il..
and Sept. 31—Oct. 2, 1982, at Techny. Il. The dialog sessions
were held under the auspices of the Division of Theological
Studies of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. and the North
American Area Council of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches. Further discussions are scheduled for 1983 and 1984.

In the first session in the current round of the dialog, the
general theme of the discussion centered in ‘Ministry and
Authority.” As an aid to participants in this task, study
documents produced on this subject by Lutherans and Re-
formed were reviewed and discussed. It was then determined
that the remaining sessions in this round of dialog should
proceed on the basis of the discussions pertaining to the
ministry. It was agreed that in the following sessions the
participants would make an in-depth examination of existing
literature and materials available on this subject as they have
been produced by the various church bodies.

The next two sessions were spent discussing the general
topic of ministry. This helped the members of the dialog team
to understand each other's history and tradition more clearly.
At the close of the third session it was resolved that the work of
the two delegations would be written as a*“*Lutheran Reformed
Report.” It is to deal with four areas of “Mutual Recognition.”
namely, “Membership and Church, Ministry. Eucharist. and
Common Mission.” The remaining sessions in the current
round of dialog are to be directed toward that goal.

The dialog provides the participants with the opportunity to
discuss matters of concern and importance to members in both
the Lutheran and Reformed churches. The LCMS representa-
tives in the dialog are Dr. Howard Tepker and Rev. George
Dolak.

5. Lutheran-Orthodox

A new bilateral dialog with the Orthodox is being planned
through LCUSA’s Division of Theological Studies. Appointed
by President Bohlmann to represent the Synod on this dialog
are Dr. Albert Marcis and Prof. William Schmelder. No meet-
ings have been held as of the date of this report.

C. National Council of Churches

On the recommendation of the CTCR. Dr. Samuel Nafzger,
executive secretary, serves as a member of the National
Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission. This
contact assists the commission in keeping itself informed
regarding developments on the American ecclesiastical scene
and provides an opportunity for the Synod to make its position
on contemporary issues known to representatives of other
churches in this country.

Il. AUXILIARY COMMITTEES
A. Exchange Study Committee

The work of the Exchange Study Committee, called into
being in 1954. has been supervised by the CTCR since the