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Half of Full Communion
Abstract: United Methodist Church approves full communion with ELCA.
On April 28, by a vote of 864-19, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC) adopted an implementing resolution to establish full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Full communion will be fully realized by both churches should the same proposal be adopted at the next ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets Aug. 17-23, 2009, in Minneapolis.
According to the ELCA News Service, full communion means the churches will work for visible unity in Jesus Christ, recognize each other's ministries, work together on a variety of ministry initiatives, and, under certain circumstances, provide for the interchangeability of ordained clergy.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson said:
I always think of full communion as merely a step along the way toward a new, possible future because of the relationship. That new, possible future is the for the sake of the world. It's for the sake of mission. Full communion calls for ecumenical, missional imagination.
Other full communion partners with the ELCA include The Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Moravian Church in America,, Reformed Church in America, and United Church of Christ.
