Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly  passed

Resolution C2002-8

A little question:  The Episcopal Church USA has NOT adopted “Called to Common Mission” (CCM) as amended by the 1999 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly.  How will CCM be implemented in the future?

WHEREAS, “Called to Common Mission” (CCM) became effective January 1, 2001 as the full communion agreement between the Episcopal Church USA and the ELCA; and

WHEREAS, for any official agreement between two parties to be valid, both parties to said agreement must have adopted the agreement document identical in content; and

WHEREAS, the CCM document adopted by the ELCA August 19, 1999 contains the March 8, 1999 Conference of Bishops’ resolution interpreting the CCM document; and

WHEREAS, the 1999 Churchwide Assembly adopted the March 8, 1999 Conference of Bishops’ resolution interpreting CCM; and

WHEREAS, Presiding Bishop Anderson stated “It is accepted by vote 903 - 101 so it is incorporated;” and

WHEREAS, the Episcopal Church USA voted in July, 2000 to adopt the CCM text without the inclusion of the incorporated ELCA Bishops’ Resolution (March 8, 1999); and

WHEREAS, the ELCA and the Episcopal Church USA have thus not adopted identical texts of the CCM document; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis Area Synod request the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA to clarify the Episcopal Church USA’s understanding of the Bishops’ Resolution (March 8, 1999 Tucson, Arizona), namely, that the ELCA considers them binding on both the Episcopal Church USA and the ELCA with regard to further implementation of CCM, and that he report his  findings to the Minneapolis Area Synod.