The 2.3 million member Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and Anglican Church in North America have begun talks about ways they might cooperate in areas of common concern. They find agreement in much of their core doctrines, with some issues about liturgy, sacraments and the ministry of the ordained.
But they both agree that they must fight any effort toward marriage equality and must fight to de-legalize abortion.
From the Christian Post’s report:
“The joint report recognizes ‘a pervasive threat to the understanding of marriage as the life-long union of a man and woman as husband and wife and oppose any efforts to redefine marriage in any other terms.’
The churches affirmed the biblical teaching that God intends sexuality only to be fully enacted within the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. “We oppose efforts within society or by some churches to view other sexual relationships as moral alternatives to heterosexual marriage.”
[…]’Denominationally we look toward the possibility of joint statements on important issues facing our churches and our culture such as questions about homosexuality and abortion. We also anticipate opportunities to work together to address human needs like hunger, homelessness, and other ministries of mercy toward those in crisis.'”
No major surprises here. Just as the Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Church are growing closer together, you’d expect those opposed to those denominations to do so as well. As the ELCA processes the reactions their decision last summer to allow partnered gay and lesbian to open serve as pastors, I wonder if the congregations withdrawing from the ELCA will reach out the ACNA or the LCMS first.