Memorial #2

Lutheran World Federation Clergy Reciprocity

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as a member church of 

the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is in full communion (pulpit and altar

fellowship) with all other member churches, and

WHEREAS, Full communion entails mutual recognition of ordained ministries, and

WHEREAS, The ELCA lacks procedures to permit such ordained ministers who are in

good standing in their own churches to function as ordained ministers in its 

synods, and

WHEREAS, Such procedures are in place for those churches in the USA with which the 

ELCA is in full communion, the Episcopal Church in the USA, the Presbyterian 

Church in the USA, the United Church of Christ, and the Moravian Church, and

WHEREAS, This creates an asymmetry that is prejudicial against the rest of the Lutheran

Communion, and

WHEREAS, Ordained ministers from other Lutheran churches may fill needs in the synods 

of the ELCA, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the Churchwide 

Assembly to request the Division for Ministry to conduct a review of the protocols for reception of properly accredited ministers from other Lutheran rosters, and be it further

RESOLVED, That this review specifically consider

a. Harmonizing them with protocols in place for ministers from other

churches with which the ELCA is in full communion;

b. Empowering synod bishops to officially receive and roster ministers coming

to them from other Lutheran churches upon approval of the local candidacy committee and/or

c. Authorizing synod bishops to grant permission for ministers of other

Lutheran churches to exercise their ministry within the synod under the bishop's supervision while those ministers' status within the ELCA is

pending.