Last week the Episcopal Church in the USA and the two provinces of the Moravian Church in North America formally inaugurated a full communion agreement between the two churches in a February 10 Eucharistic service in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (click on hyperlink for news story from the Episcopal News Service). The agreement is not a merger of the two denominations, but rather an arrangement that makes possible not only Eucharistic sharing but also sharing of ordained ministries, similar to existing agreements the Episcopal Church has with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, the Philippine Independent Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, India. The full text of "Finding Our Delight in the Lord," the proposal for full communion, is available online (click on hyperlinked title). Thanks to Gerald Stover for calling this development to my attention.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Episcopal-Moravian Full Communion Agreement
Last week the Episcopal Church in the USA and the two provinces of the Moravian Church in North America formally inaugurated a full communion agreement between the two churches in a February 10 Eucharistic service in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (click on hyperlink for news story from the Episcopal News Service). The agreement is not a merger of the two denominations, but rather an arrangement that makes possible not only Eucharistic sharing but also sharing of ordained ministries, similar to existing agreements the Episcopal Church has with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, the Philippine Independent Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, India. The full text of "Finding Our Delight in the Lord," the proposal for full communion, is available online (click on hyperlinked title). Thanks to Gerald Stover for calling this development to my attention.
This post reminded me of a covenant agreement that the PC (USA) entered into also with the Moravian church.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, the PCUSA Book of Order defines ecumenical relationships along two broad categories: 'in full communion' (G-15.0201a) and 'in correspondence' (G-15.0201b). Covenant relationships, like the one b/w the PC (USA) and the Moravian church have all of the elements of a full communion relationship.
The links for relevant documents are below:
An Invitation to the Table: http://oga.pcusa.org/ecumenicalrelations/resources/invitation-to-the-table-moravian.pdf
article from the General Assembly on the agreement: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/9/14/moravians-vote-establish-covenant-relationship-pcu/
Many thanks for sharing this, Jason.
ReplyDelete