Comments on: Full Communion

By: David

David — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:17:03 +0000

For the last four years I have been studying side by side with several members of the UMC. We have had some great discussions concerning our differences and simialrities. To this end, we have been in communion with one another all along, and now it is official. I for one welcome this agreement and the opportunity to share more of the things we have in common.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:58:55 +0000

What concerns me is if we begin to give up what is distinctive to our own tradition. Lutherans have a high view of the Sacrament of the Altar, for example, and place a great deal of emphasis on God’s initiative. I think that pastors who cross traditions to serve in another have to be mindful of these realities. Lutherans challenge us Anglicans to keep in mind Jesus and Gospel, and God’s ever-prior saving activity. I have a little “holy envy”, to use the late Krister Stendahl’s recommendation.

By: Art

Art — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:43:16 +0000

In general I think it’s a good thing. I don’t know how it will pan out in the real world but at least it’s an attempt (as I see it) to say that we are all in this Christianity thing together.

By: PS

PS — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:03:10 +0000

You statement about the theological education makes some sense. My daughter studied under a Luther scholar, did an internship at a Lutheran Church, but because the institution overseeing those classes and internship was Presbyterian, she still had to do a year at a Lutheran Sem and so a real Lutheran internship. That’s a lot of schooling and time and money, and still she hasn’t been given the name of a church for an interview.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:32:40 +0000

*yawn* Well, there’s one.

I’m with you on this one, LP. I know we don’t agree on some of the theological aspects of some of these agreements, but we are in lockstep when it comes to what Jesus meant in John 17, the basis for much of what’s going on.

My wife works at a Presbyterian church at the moment, so I suppose that’s one of the positives that has come out of this ecumenical fervor, but you’re right – the exceptions don’t seem to leap out as strong reasons to be excited about this stuff.

By: jWinters

jWinters — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:23:21 +0000

Yo LP,
Your article brings up a point that I’ve been thinking for a while. With all of these mergers between different mainline protestant congregations, are we moving toward a sort of protestant umbrella organization? “Mainline Christian Church” let’s call it…

If so…what would be the negatives and positives of such a move. I can see both. It would, in many ways, revolutionize campus ministry work.

On another note, as a guy who constantly proclaims that “it says ‘Lutheran’ outside our door, not what kind”, I’m actually interested in how this works out for y’all…

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:27:02 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts and general appreciation for our tribe. We UM folks like this Luther guy that you guys talk about too.

In any case, I agree with your thoughts on Jesus’ high priestly prayer – missional unity and organizational unity aren’t necessarily the same thing. In the end, I’m pretty sure this announcement will be received by most of the world with a resounding yawn.