Q & A on Called to Common Mission:
A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement
Does the CCM propose the suspension of "Vision and Expectations" used in the ELCA?
What will be impact of CCM on Seminary education?
What will be the impact of CCM on Lutheran Social Services?
Does the CCM propose the suspension of "Vision and Expectations" used in the ELCA?
No, the CCM does not propose the suspension of "Vision and Expectations" used in the ELCA. In fact, the revised text of CCM insists in paragraph 22 that any ordained ministers serving the other church will respect that church’s internal discipline. Consequently, there is no requirement that the rules of the Episcopal Church will apply to pastors in The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America except if they serve Episcopal parishes, and priests of The Episcopal Church serving ELCA congregations will be expected to follow the "Vision and Expectations."
Does CCM propose the ordination of gay and lesbian pastors?
No, regardless of what individuals in each church may maintain, each church is conducting its own responsible discourse and deliberations about this controversial issue. CCM does not interfere with this process in the ELCA.
The Episcopal Church USA ordains women pastors like the ELCA, and, although there have been Episcopal bishops who oppose the ordination of women as priests, it is not the policy of the church, and this resistance is expected to disappear over time using a strategy of patient love as opposed to force.
What will be the impact of CCM on Seminary Education?
As a result of CCM, There will be an increase of Lutherans attending Episcopal seminaries and an increase of Episcopal seminarians attending Lutheran seminaries, but this is already occurring to some extent for reasons of location and agreement on matters of faith—an issue we cannot forget, namely that the two churches agree on the essential matters of faith. Lutheran students will become more familiar with the Book of Common Prayer and Episcopal students will likewise become familiar with the Augsburg Confession.
Will Lutheran seminaries merge with Episcopal seminaries?
If the future holds this eventuality, it will not be directly related to CCM but other factors like the location of seminaries, limited enrollments, and the financial viability of each institution. The ELCA strategy of clustering seminaries has already transformed the discussion of merger into mission.
What will be the impact of CCM on Lutheran Social Services?
When the churches are in full communion, it will not take long and mission possibilities will emerge, because we will be in fuller relationship with each other. Families that eat together are normally a healthy witness to the community. When two great churches eat and drink together around the Lord’s table, their mission will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in ways not seen before, and the North American community will be the better for it. The enormous Lutheran social service network will serve as a model for the smaller Episcopal social service network, and Lutherans will be strengthened in turn. In addition, as CCM notes, "Some functions of ordained deacons in The Episcopal Church and consecrated diaconal ministers and deaconesses in the Evangelical Lutheran Church can be shared insofar as they are called to be agents of the church in meeting needs, hopes, and concerns within church and society" (CCM, 8). CCM and its predecessors have already provided the inspiration for small initiatives in parts of the country, but mission needs are crying out for a fuller cooperation that will only be possible when we commune and fellowship together.