Anglican, Episcopal and Lutheran leaders in the USA and Canada have issued a joint pastoral letter to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the churches’ full-communion relationships saying that they “look forward to the development of fuller relationships that will lead to a common mission, ministry, and witness in the world.”
“Called to Common Mission,” the full-communion agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and “The Waterloo Declaration,” between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, both took effect in 2001. But no formal agreements exist between the different denominations across the border, a situation the leaders hope to change.
On May 1, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, Anglican Church in Canada Archbishop Fred Hiltz and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Bishop Susan Johnson will participate in unique simultaneous liturgies on either side of the U.S.-Canadian border.
Johnson will preside and Jefferts Schori will preach at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Fort Erie, Ontario. Hanson will preside and Hiltz will preach at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York (Diocese of Western New York). Both services will begin at 3 p.m. EDT.
The celebrations will include elements of the worship services of the four denominations.
“Ten years ago, when Lutherans and Anglicans in Canada and in the United States embarked on journeys of full communion with one another, we pledged our commitment to unity in Christ for the sake of the mission of Christ’s church,” the leaders said. “On this anniversary, we rejoice and give thanks for those places of cooperation and ministry that our agreements have enabled … As we continue this journey, we call upon our pastors, bishops, and denominational and congregational leaders to active engagement in God’s mission and an increase in their capacity for multiplying ministry in the world.”
The leaders also recognized a common commitment to protect the earth and to “care for God’s creation and for our neighbors” and acknowledged issues of immigration, particularly along the world’s border, and committed to ongoing advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform.
“We are also aware that our own full communion arrangements reflect this border between our two countries: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church in Canada are in full communion, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church are in full communion,” they said. “We ask our four churches to explore ways to formalize our relationships and deepen the partnerships between all four of our churches…”
Hanson said in an earlier statement that the May celebration will be “an important reminder that neither historic divisions between churches nor boundaries between our nations are obstacles for sharing mission and ministry together.”
“We put our trust and hope in Christ, who has led us thus far in these relationships,” the leaders said. “With boldness we venture now with a time of breaking new ground, planting more seeds, and tending them in the spirit of authentic partnership in the Gospel. With humility we offer all our labors to the Lord, hoping they take us and all our brothers and sisters in Christ towards a fuller realization of that unity for which he prays.”