Minneapolis Synod Resolution 8, 2001

Building an evangelical, confessional Lutheran future in America.

Minneapolis Area Synod Resolution 8, 2001

RESOLUTION
Integrity for and Commitment to the ELCA Conference of Bishops’ Tucson Resolution

1 WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Conference of Bishops’ Tucson

2 Resolution, adopted at Tucson, Arizona on March 8, 1999, has been acknowledged and declared

3 by the ELCA and the Episcopal Church USA to be the correct interpretation of the Called to

4 Common Mission Document, (as per paragraph 3 of the Document); and

6 WHEREAS, the Secretary of the ELCA has declared that the Tucson Resolution was not officially

7 voted on by the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, but was simply an Endnote to the

8 Document; and thus, the Secretary informed the leadership of the Episcopal Church USA, that the

9 Tucson Resolution need not be voted upon by the 2000 National Convention of the Episcopal

10 Church USA; and

12 WHEREAS, the Episcopal Church USA in their 2000 Convention voted upon an Episcopal 'Mind of

13 the House of Bishop's Resolution', which clearly contradicts the declarations and statements found

14 within the Tucson Resolution, especially with regard to the threefold order of Episcopal ordained

15 ministry; and

17 WHEREAS, there is significant concern among persons who were Voting Members to the 1999

18 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, regarding the status of the Tucson Resolution, as the Tucson

19 Resolution was clearly pivotal in securing the needed votes for ELCA passage of the CCM

20 document; and

22 WHEREAS, neither the ELCA Conference of Bishops nor the ELCA Church Council have reiterated

23 their intention to use the Tucson Resolution as the binding standard by which the Document will

24 be interpreted, and neither the ELCA Conference of Bishops nor the ELCA Church Council have

25 chosen to challenge the declaration made by the Secretary of the ELCA; and

27 WHEREAS, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA has appointed persons to serve on the joint

28 Commission, which is given the responsibility of interpreting the Document, and the ELCA

29 members of the Joint Commission deserve to clearly know that the Tucson Resolution is the binding

30 and correct interpretation of the Document; therefore be it

32 RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis Area Synod in Assembly declares its understanding that the

33 Tucson Resolution is the correct interpretation of the CCM Document, and directs the Synod Vice

34 President to forward this action to the Joint Commission Members and the ELCA Churchwide Office

35 and the ELCA Conference of Bishops; and be it further

37 RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis Area Synod in Assembly memorializes the 2001 Churchwide

38 Assembly to declare, for the record, that the Tucson Resolution of March 8, 1999, is the correct

39 interpretation for the ELCA of the CCM Document.

Submitted by: Holy Nativity Lutheran Church Congregational Meeting - December 10, 2000

Contact person: Pastor David W. Mohn (763-545-1647)

and The Northwest Hennepin Conference in Assembly April 19, 2001 Contact person: Pastor John Bucka, Conference Dean (763-533-334 1)

Author: Pastor David W Mohn (763-545-1647)

Reference & Counsel Committee forwards this resolution without recommendation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION RC2001-8

Integrity for and Commitment to the ELCA Conference of Hishop's Tucson Resolution

Endnote

RESOLVED, that the Conference of Bishops affirm the following understandings of "Called to Common

Mission":,

A. 'Me Conference of Bishops understands that "Called to Common Mission" contains:

1. no requirement that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America must eventually adopt the three-fold order of ministry. Rather, "Called to Common Mission" recognizes that the present understanding of one ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including both pastors and bishops, may continue in effect;

2. no requirement that ELCA bishops be elected to serve as synodical bishops for life. Rather, they will continue to be elected and installed for six-year terms, with eligibility for re-election, subject to term limits, where applicable;

.3.. no defined role for the presiding bishop or synodical bishops after their tenure in office is completed;

4. no requirement that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America establish the office of deacon, nor that they be ordained;

5. no requirement that priests of The Episcopal Church will serve congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America without the congregation's consent-,

6. no requirement that the Ordinal (rules).of The Episcopal Church will apply to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;

7.. no commitment to additional constitutional amendments or liturgical revisions other than those presented to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly (ELCA constitutional provisions 8.72.10-16.; 9.21IO2.; 9.90.-9.91.02.; 10.3 I.a.9.; 10.81.0 I., and parallel provisions in synodical and congregational constitutions); and further

B. The Conference of Bishops has the expectation that:

1. ordinations of pastors will continue to be held at synodical worship services and in congregations, as is the present pattern;

2. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will continue to receive onto the roster of ordained ministers, without re-ordination, pastors from other traditions, some of whom will not have been ordained by a bishop in the historic episcopate;

3. following the adoption of "Called to Common Mission," if someone who has been received onto the roster of ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who was not ordained into the pastoral office in the historic episcopate is elected bishop and installed, he or she will be understood to be a bishop in the historic episcopate;

4. lay persons may continue to be licensed by the synodical bishop in unusual circumstances to administer the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion as is the present practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;

5. "Definitions and Guidelines for discipline of Ordained Ministers" will apply to priests of The Episcopal Church and ordained ministers of the Reformed churches serving ELCA congregations [under ELCA bylaw 8.71.15.b........ to live in a manner consistent with the ministerial policy of this church."];

6. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is not in an . y way changing its confessional -stance that. "For the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the teaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments" (Augsburg Confession, Article VII);

7. The Episcopal Church accepts fully, and without reservation, present ELCA pastors and bishops who are not in the historic Episcopal succession;

8. priests of The Episcopal Church and ordained ministers of the Reformed churches will not be asked to subscribe personally to the Confession of Faith of the Lutheran Church as their personal faith. They will be expected to recognize the agreement in faith of the churches and to preach and teach in a manner consistent with the Lutheran Confessions;

9. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America receives the historic Episcopal succession as a sign of and service to the continuity and unity of the Church and in no way as a guarantee of the faithful transmission of the faith;

10. future decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on matters of common concern will be made in consultation with churches with whom a relationship of full communion has been declared, but these decisions will not require their concurrence or approval;

11 future Churchwide Assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be free to make. what ever decisions they deem necessary after mutual consultation on, matters related to full communion;

12. the joint commission (to which reference is made in "Called to Common Mission") will have no authority over the appropriate decision-making bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or The Episcopal Church; and

13. pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will continue to preside at confirmations.

CALLED TO COMMON MISSION

Reference & Counsel forwards this resolution without recommendation.