ELCA - UMC communion

[AngelusSax]

A similar thread was on the TCL forums, so I wanted to post this one here:

I am officially a member of the ELCA, which has joined with the UMC in full communion, able to share a pastor, even have joint congregations now. When not in my hometown, I actually attend a UMC church (there's no Lutheran available), so this move makes me feel a little more like, whichever town I'm in (Ironton or Morehead), I'm still now, some how, some way, attending "my church".

Any thoughts on this? Good move? Bad move? So-so move?

[GraceSeeker]

Good move. Doesn't mean as much as the ELCA thinks it does, or at least means more to them than it does to the UMC.

I'm a UMC pastor, and I served in the ELCA even before this was on the table, let alone approved. I remember how excited my ELCA pastor friends got about being in full communion with the Moravians. The thing is, for all practical purposes we in the UMC pretty much consider ourselves in full communion with everyone already. We have pastors from many other denominations (with who we have no "full communion" agreements) serving in UMC church already. The big issue for us in sharing clergy will be the question of itineracy (move when and where the bishop says). ELCA pastors who aren't willing to do this won't find much room in the UMC except on isolated case-by-case basis and that was available to them within the already existing system. UMC pastors who wish to serve in the ELCA will have to take a leave of absence like I did. But that was available to me before we passed the new agreement.

And, because of our UMC theology that if one is an ordained elder of the church then the world is our parish, I can (according to the view of my own tradition) do communion any place in the world that someone desires to receive it. Hence, with the full knowledge (and unofficial blessing) of the bishop on whose staff I served, I was performing communion in ELCA churches 9 years ago.

[Speculative]

The thing is, for all practical purposes we in the UMC pretty much consider ourselves in full communion with everyone already.
I agree with this, but I'm happy to hear about this move.

Many times, when travelling, our family will look up an ELCA church and attend. I've always been a fan. :)

[tpony298]

Good move. Doesn't mean as much as the ELCA thinks it does, or at least means more to them than it does to the UMC.

"And, because of our UMC theology that if one is an ordained elder of the church then the world is our parish, I can (according to the view of my own tradition) do communion any place in the world that someone desires to receive it. Hence, with the full knowledge (and unofficial blessing) of the bishop on whose staff I served, I was performing communion in ELCA churches 9 years ago.

My pastor. (UMC) brings communion to my home when I miss it at church...He knows how important communion is top me......Pony

[AngelusSax]

I think it only makes things "official" now, and probably means more on the ELCA side as far as practical matters (Before, a refusal of communion may have been okay, but now it may not be by official rules within the ELCA, or something, but I don't know so don't hold me to that).

It may not be a huge move, but the fact that it's official now just seems like it's one more step toward some semblance of Christian unity, which is a good thing.

[Izdaari]

I'm in a different church, but for what it's worth, I approve. I like both the UMC and ELCA, and could easily have been in either... or now, both. :D

[Texas Lynn]

I am not sure but I believe the Mainline churches in communion with one another include UMC, ELCA, ECUSA, UCC, AME, and PCUSA. All are very similar. Episcopals (ECUSA) are more ritually specific, but, they are the second most supportive of social change after the UCC. The UMC has more right-wingers in our ranks than about all the others put together and this is reflected in our church conferences. We are UMC and I have thought long and hard about leaving to be UCC or Episcopal but I think the right thing to do is to stay UMC and fight for what is right. However, we are close to the Episcopal priest in this area who is also pastor of a ELCA church. The two churches negotiate these things gingerly. The ELCA church is mostly elderly, but, when we go to hear her preach, we usually go there instead of the Episcopal church because there's less stand up-sit down-fight fight fight going on (I.e., the ridiculously convoluted Episcopal ritual). But we go to all the church suppers at the Episcopal church.