The leaders of The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have issued a joint statement following 12 years of full communion.
Here is the full text:
TWELVE YEARS AGO Anglicans and Lutherans in Canada and Episcopalians and Lutherans in the United States embarked together on a journey of full communion, by which we fully recognize each other “as churches in which the gospel is truly preached and the holy sacraments duly administered” (Called to Common Mission). With joy we can point to many ways in which our churches have drawn more closely together in the service of the gospel.
We would highlight just a few:
In the United States:
• Joint congregations and mission planning: A number of Episcopal and Lutheran congregations across the United States are becoming more and more integrated by sharing buildings, clergy, and worship with each other, in the spirit of full communion. The two churches are also planting new ministries together and cooperating in outreach ministries.
• Combined disaster relief efforts: Lutherans and Episcopalians have pooled their resources to help respond to the victims of natural disasters, from floods in Iowa to hurricanes in Mississippi.
• Shared personnel: The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share campus ministries and training for federal prison and military chaplains, as well as an international policy and advocacy staff person in Washington, D.C.
In Canada:
• Joint Assembly: In July the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada will hold their General Synod and National Convention together in the form of a Joint Assembly under the theme, “Together for the Love of the World.” They will worship together, consider God’s mission in the world today, and discern next steps in their relationship as churches in full communion.
• Combined youth and worship gatherings: The Canadian Lutheran-Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering and the Anglican-Lutheran National Worship Conference are two biennial events organized and sponsored jointly by both churches.
• Shared space: The Diocese of Rupert’s Land and the Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod are sharing the same office space in Winnipeg and have published a joint issue of the diocesan newspaper.