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Beyond Clergy Exchange
Abstract: ELCA makes mission investment in full-communion partner.
The Moravian Church in America's Northern Province has secured a $250,000 loan from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Mission Investment Fund (MIF) as an extension of the full communion relationship between the two church bodies.
"The working out of the bilateral relationship is often talked about in terms of clergy exchange, and we frankly never thought that it would be viable in this arena," said the Rev. David L. Wickmann, president, Moravian Church Northern Province. In 1999 the ELCA entered into full communion with the Moravian Church in America."The MIF loan that was extended to the Moravian Church's Northern Province is an example of closer unity, cooperation, sharing in mission and discipleship. It is a wonderful example of what it means to be in full communion and to share more completely with one another for the sake of Christ's mission in the world," said the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations.
The MIF's primary mission is to provide low-interest loans to mission congregations to purchase land and construct church buildings, and to established ELCA congregations for renovation, expansion and relocation projects. The 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly amended the MIF bylaws to clarify that loans and investments could cross denominational lines of full communion partners. The loan to the Moravian province was finalized in April 2008.
"We take our relationship with the Mission Investment Fund very seriously and are going to be investing $250,000 into the Fund in one of their short-term investments," Wickmann said. "We'll probably keep that money there for a fairly long period of time just by way of saying we appreciate what the ELCA is doing for us."
Wickmann acknowledged that the investment is equal to the loan, adding, "We were not required to do that, but we wanted to do that."
The ELCA is also in full communion with the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America, and United Church of Christ. Those church bodies manage funds similar to the ELCA Mission Investment Fund.
