LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 396

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396 ADDITIONAL THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS—OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

para. 34 the major problem to be resolved: namely, episcopal min-
istry and its relation to succession. The report then breaks new
ground, signposted in para. 35. The sections which follow deserve
close attention. In seeking to unlock our churches from limited and
negative perceptions, this chapter spells out a deeper understanding
of apostolicity, of the episcopal office, and of historic succession as
‘sign’. This theological argument is again linked in para. 54 to a
mission context, and its conclusions are summarized in paras 56-
57. Since this part of the report arises from the empirical reality of
church life in twelve different countries, we refer the reader to the
series of twelve short historical essays on Episcopacy in our
Churches and Canon and Canon Christopher Hill’s Introduction to
the Essays on Church and Ministry in Northern Europe. Regarding
the Lutheran understanding of ordination in the Nordic and Baltic
churches, Anglican readers will be helped by Canon John Hal-
liburton’s analysis of the ordinals in current use. Local similarities
and differences over the ministry of deacons and initiation and con-
firmation are described and evaluated in further essays. In men-
tioning these materials we add our grateful thanks to all the writers,
and especially to Canon Hill for his work as editor of the Essays.
Chapter V contains in para. 58 the Porvoo Declaration which will
be laid before the appropriate decision-making bodies of each
church for approval. Clause b(v) makes clear that the interchange
of ordained ministers must be “in accordance with any regulations
which may from time to time be in force’. This implies a realistic
acceptance of certain restrictions which already apply within our
communions, e.g. regarding the ministry of women bishops (and
those ordained by them) or women priests in particular places, the
requirements of reasonable fluency in the local language, appro-
priate professional qualifications, State employment regulations,
taking of customary oaths, etc.

10. We now offer this report to the participating churches for
their scrutiny. The text is being translated into each of the lan-
guages concerned, but the English text remains definitive. As paras
60 and 61 make clear, these proposals do not conflict with exist-
ing ecumenical relationships. Yet we are clear that this report does
have implications for other churches too, and we would urge that
advisory responses be sought from our ecumenical partners during
the process of response. The method adopted by this report is, in
principle, one which could be applied between other ecumenical
partners. To them, as well as to our own church authorities. we sub-
mit these proposals with humility.

Il. We have a keen hope that all the participating churches will
approve the Porvoo Declaration. If so, this will be a very significant
contribution towards restoring the visible unity of Christ’s Church.
As soon as one of the Anglican churches and one of the Lutheran
churches has approved the Declaration, its provisions can begin op-
erating between them, subject to any necessary changes being made
by each church to its own laws or regulations. Only in the course of
time will the full consequences of the Declaration be able to be
gauged. It is envisaged that public celebrations to mark our new re-
lations will not take place until all the participating churches have
made their response.

12. During the eucharist in Porvoo Cathedral on the final Sunday
of our Conversations we were reminded by the preacher that to re-
joice in our Anglican and Lutheran traditions is not enough. If the
gospel is to be allowed to define and shape the life of our commu-
nities, this requires us not only to be faithful to the tradition which
we have inherited, but also to be responsive to new issues. A special
challenge faces those who belong to national churches: to exercise a
critical and prophetic réle within the life of their own nation, and
also to witness to a unity in Christ which transcends national loyal-
ties and boundaries. We believe that the insights and proposals con-
tained in this report offer a way to bring us closer together in an-
swering that challenge, and in enabling our churches to bear

2001 Convention Workbook

effective Christian witness and service not only within their partic-
ular nations and cultures but also within a broader European setting.
+ David Grimsby

The Right Revd. David Tustin

Bishop of Grimsby

Tore Furberg

The Right Revd. Dr. Tore Furberg

Former Bishop of Visby, Johannesburg

February 1993

I. Setting the Scene
A. New Opportunity

1. Through the gracious leading of God Anglicans and Luther-
ans all over the world are sharing together in mission and service,
and discovering how much they have in common. In Europe our
churches have lived side by side in separate nations for centuries.
For a considerable time our churches have maintained in each
other’s countries chaplaincies, which are of growing significance
with the increased mobility of population between the churches.
Where both church traditions are present in the same place, as in
North America and Southern and East Africa, new relationships
have developed and new local agreements have been made. At the
same time there is a growing closeness between European Angli-
cans and Lutherans, which convinces us that the time has come for
us to review and revise the existing agreements.

2. These agreements, which make possible differing degrees of
communion, have been only partially implemented. For example,
the political situation of the Baltic states hindered effective imple-
mentation for fifty years from 1939 to 1989. The agreements differ
widely because in the past Anglicans have distinguished between
the different Lutheran churches, principally on the criterion of the
historic episcopate. However, the Nordic and Baltic churches have
always enjoyed eucharistic communion. Moreover, the Nordic
countries are increasingly regarded as one region and the churches
now cooperate closely with one another and within the Nordic
Bishops’ Conference and the Nordic Ecumenical Council. Politi-
cal change in Eastern Europe has given new hope to the churches
of the Baltic countries. They are now developing their own life and
are increasingly making their contribution to the wider fellowship.
Cooperation with them becomes more important in a rapidly
changing situation offering new possibilities for the churches.

3. The Nordic and Baltic churches wish to relate to the Anglican
churches in Britain and Ireland, not only as separate national
churches, but also as groups of churches. The Commission is glad
of new links with the Lutheran Church in Lithuania. It believes that
the possibility of a new agreement, which will not differentiate be-
tween our churches, is opening up before us. .

4. We are encouraged in this belief by an evident theological
convergence in several Anglican-Lutheran conversations. Further-
more, the official acceptance of The Meissen Common Statement
by the Church of England and the Evangelical Church in Germany
indicates a growing common understanding of the Church.

5. Anglicans and Lutherans are also helped by the broader ecu-
menical convergence, to which Orthodox, Roman Catholic and
Protestant churches have contributed, on the doctrines of the
Church, the ministry and the sacraments. This convergence has en-
abled us to move beyond both ways of thought and misunderstand-
ings which have hindered the quest for unity between Anglicans
and Lutherans. Of particular importance is the understanding of the
mystery of the Church as the body of Christ, as the pilgrim people
of God, as fellowship (koinonia), and also as participation through
witness and service in God’s mission to the world. This provides a
proper setting for a new approach to the question of the ordained
ministry and of oversight (episcope).