Apostolic Succession in ELCA

[Adammi]

Does the ELCA claim to have Apostolic Succession and do you place any importance on it?

Thanks

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

No, Lutherans do not claim apostolic succession. In fact Lutherans are in some ways opposed to it in that churches such as the Episcopal and Catholic that claim apostolic succession believe in the necessity of the laying of the hands to become worthy or approved to do things such as administering the sacraments. They believe that the priest is changed in the laying of the hands. This is contrary to the Lutheran theology of the Priesthood of All Believers which states that all Christians are "priestly people". This controversy is obviously important when discussing issues such as being in full communion with the episcopal church. I am not saying this does or does not mean we should be full communion but it is perhaps one of the greatest issues regarding current ecumenical discussions between these two church bodies and I think it is of far greater concern for us than what who the episcopal church is ordaining.

[Adammi]

No, Lutherans do not claim apostolic succession. In fact Lutherans are in some ways opposed to it in that churches such as the Episcopal and Catholic that claim apostolic succession believe in the necessity of the laying of the hands to become worthy or approved to do things such as administering the sacraments. They believe that the priest is changed in the laying of the hands. This is contrary to the Lutheran theology of the Priesthood of All Believers which states that all Christians are "priestly people". This controversy is obviously important when discussing issues such as being in full communion with the episcopal church. I am not saying this does or does not mean we should be full communion but it is perhaps one of the greatest issues regarding current ecumenical discussions between these two church bodies and I think it is of far greater concern for us than what who the episcopal church is ordaining.
Thanks for your speedy and informative answer. I read that ELCA and ECUSA are in full communion and that is what raised this question with me.

Thanks

[IowaLutheran]

One way of definining "apostolic succession" is having beliefs that go back to apostolic times. By maintaining beliefs consistent with the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, and other early Christian beliefs, Lutherans believe that we are successors to the apostles.

Obviously, "apostolic succession" normally refers to an episcopate made up of bishops who have been ordained in a line of succession going back to the apostles.

The Lutheran Churches of Sweden and Finland maintain apostolic succession because during the Reformation, the local Catholic bishop(s) became Lutheran, and then they ordained their successor, and so on. So, those churches have uninterrupted apostolic succession of bishops.

Prior to 2001, the ELCA had bishops, but not in apostolic succession. As a part of the full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church, the ELCA adopted apostolic succession of bishops. Bishops intalled in the ELCA since 2001 have had the "laying on of hands" by other bishops in apostolic succession - the apostolic lines were started up again through having the "laying on of hands" from other Lutheran churches with apostolic succession or Episcopal bishops.

Does the ELCA think it is important? Yes and no. "Yes" because we believe that bishops are good for maintaing proper church order and being installed in a line going back to the apostles is important on at least a symbolic basis. "No" because, unlike Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans, we do not believe that apostolic succession of bishops is a part of the essence of the church. The church is located where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered, whether apostolic succession is there or not.

So, in sum, the ELCA has adopted a "functional" historic episcopate because we believe it is good for church order and unity, but not because we believe that it is a necessity for us to be a "church".

[Adammi]

One way of definining "apostolic succession" is having beliefs that go back to apostolic times. By maintaining beliefs consistent with the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, and other early Christian beliefs, Lutherans believe that we are successors to the apostles.

Obviously, "apostolic succession" normally refers to an episcopate made up of bishops who have been ordained in a line of succession going back to the apostles.

The Lutheran Churches of Sweden and Finland maintain apostolic succession because during the Reformation, the local Catholic bishop(s) became Lutheran, and then they ordained their successor, and so on. So, those churches have uninterrupted apostolic succession of bishops.

Prior to 2001, the ELCA had bishops, but not in apostolic succession. As a part of the full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church, the ELCA adopted apostolic succession of bishops. Bishops intalled in the ELCA since 2001 have had the "laying on of hands" by other bishops in apostolic succession - the apostolic lines were started up again through having the "laying on of hands" from other Lutheran churches with apostolic succession or Episcopal bishops.

Does the ELCA think it is important? Yes and no. "Yes" because we believe that bishops are good for maintaing proper church order and being installed in a line going back to the apostles is important on at least a symbolic basis. "No" because, unlike Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans, we do not believe that apostolic succession of bishops is a part of the essence of the church. The church is located where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered, whether apostolic succession is there or not.

So, in sum, the ELCA has adopted a "functional" historic episcopate because we believe it is good for church order and unity, but not because we believe that it is a necessity for us to be a "church".
So, ELCA does have apostolic succession after full communion was made with the Anglicans, it just isn't seen as important as it is in the Anglican church?

[IowaLutheran]

So, ELCA does have apostolic succession after full communion was made with the Anglicans, it just isn't seen as important as it is in the Anglican church?


Correct!

Here is the relevant sentence from the text of Called to Common Mission, paragraph 18:

"By thus freely accepting the historic episcopate, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America does not thereby affirm that it is necessary for the unity of the church (Augsburg Confession 7.3)."

[Adammi]

Correct!

Here is the relevant sentence from the text of Called to Common Mission, paragraph 18:

"By thus freely accepting the historic episcopate, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America does not thereby affirm that it is necessary for the unity of the church (Augsburg Confession 7.3)."
Thanks for the answer.
So, here's a technical question: Who are Lutheran bishops consecrated by in order to ensure that they are apostolic?

[IowaLutheran]

Thanks for the answer.
So, here's a technical question: Who are Lutheran bishops consecrated by in order to ensure that they are apostolic?

It may be done by either a Lutheran bishop in apostolic succession from Sweden, Finland, or another Lutheran body with apostolic succession. Now, since so many bishops have been installed since 2001, most ELCA bishops were installed in the historic episcopate themselves, so they can do it without the necesity of importing a bishop. It also may be done by an Episcopal bishop.

For some reason, my cut and paste function is not working here, but when I googled "elca bishop install" I found an article describing an ELCA bishop's installation with several ELCA bishops in attendance, a Lutheran Tanzanian bishop (which has a.s.) and the local Episcopal bishop were in attendance.