A letter from the leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church
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As sisters and brothers in the Lutheran and Anglican/Episcopal traditions, and in the spirit of full communion between our respective Churches in Canada and the United States, we the Primatial/National/Presiding Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and The Episcopal Church are happy to say that, in the last ten years, we have intentionally deepened our own partnerships. We have done this through our annual “4 Way” meetings, joint Advent and Lenten devotions, and shared public statements on issues that concern the human family and our common home, the earth itself. We rejoice in our genuine friendship, and are grateful for the mutual support and encouragement we enjoy in the exercise of our ministries.
Our churches are all holding their respective Conventions, Synods and Assemblies during 2018/2019. We pledge our prayers as bishops, clergy and laity come together to deliberate over matters of concern unique to each Church and those common to all of us. We pray that in the midst of all the demands on our attention to matters domestic we not lose sight of our calling as the Church to be “in and for the world” (World Council of Churches, The Church: Towards a Common Vision, 2013).
We invite the members of our Churches to join us in prayer during the periods of these churchwide gatherings:
Anglican Church of Canada General Synod – July 10-16, 2019, Vancouver, British Columbia
Decisions include:
* Election of new Primate
* Canonical changes to empower the continuing emergence of structures to support the formation of a self-governing Indigenous Anglican Church within the Anglican Church of Canada
* Proposed amendments to the National Canon on Marriage
* Memorandum of Mutual Recognition of Relations of Full Communion
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Convention – July 11- 13, 2019, Regina, Saskatchewan
Decisions include:
* Election of a National Bishop
* Consideration of:
* “The Call to Journey Faithfully with Those Who Are Dying”
* “Reimagining Our Church: Public Ministry in the ELCIC”
* Memorandum of Mutual Recognition of Relations of Full Communion
* Signing on to “A Common Word Between Us and You” and initiation of a joint ACC-ELCIC program of Muslim-Christian engagement
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly – August 5-10, 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Decisions include:
* Elections for Presiding Bishop and for Secretary
* Celebration of 50th anniversary of decision to ordain women
* Consideration of:
* “Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment”
* “Faith, Sexism, and Justice”
* “Declaration to Persons of African Descent”
Almighty and ever-living God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pledge not only our prayers, but also our continued commitment to explore more deeply how to live into our communion partnerships and our common witness to Jesus Christ whose prayer is this, “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)
Archbishop Fred Hiltz (Anglican Church of Canada)
National Bishop Susan Johnson (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (The Episcopal Church)
