Ecumenical and Interreligious Resolutions at the 80th General Convention
The General Convention of The Episcopal Church will meet in Baltimore, Maryland, from July 7-14. Originally planned for the summer of 2021, the 80th General Convention was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below are the current resolutions and explanations for this Convention. Legislative Committee 19 on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations material is available in the Virtual Binder, with current status and latest action on each resolution updated in real time.
A055 Receive and Study Proposal of Ecumenical Dialogue with Presbyterians (PCUSA)
“receives with gratitude the proposal Episcopal-Presbyterian Agreement on Local Sharing of Ministries, which was prepared and distributed by The Episcopal Church-Presbyterian Dialogue” in 2021.
A091 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria-Episcopal Dialogue
“receive and commend Sharing the Gifts of Communion, available in the report to the 80th General Convention of the Task Force to Coordinate Ecumenical and Interreligious Work, as the basis for a relationship of full communion to be established between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelische Lutherische Kirche in Bayern (ELKB) (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria)”
“That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church accept the Memorandum of Mutual Recognition of Relations of Full Communion dated September 26, 2018 by and among The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada”
“Recognizes the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have previously accepted the Memorandum through actions of their respective governing bodies.”
“That Canon I.20.1 be amended by adding a new subsection, as follows:
“(d) The Episcopal Church has a relationship of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada under the terms of the Memorandum of Mutual Recognition of Relations of Full Communion dated September 26, 2018 by and among The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, which was accepted by the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church as Resolution 2021-A092.”
A093 The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Church Dialogue
“Commends the current version of A Gift to the World, Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness, which was prepared and distributed in 2018 by The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue.”
“Encourages all Episcopalians to utilize the many resources available to understand the substance of this dialogue and its goal of full communion. Resources can be found on the websites of The Episcopal Church (episcopalchurch.org), the Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (edeio.org), and umc-tec.org, a website supporting full communion between the United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church.”
A094 Affirm Ongoing Work and Dialogue with Ecumenical Partners
“Joyfully affirms the continuation of the ecumenical dialogues in which The Episcopal Church is engaged: the Presbyterian Church (USA)-Episcopal Dialogue; the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue (ARCUSA), and the work toward full communion with the United Methodist Church (UMC); the continuation of work of the dialogue with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria (Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern) and commends the document Sharing the Gifts of Communion to the church for consideration.”
“Joyfully affirms the continued coordinating committee work with our full communion partners, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Moravian Church (Northern Province and Southern Province).”
“Joyfully affirms our representation and participation in national ecumenical bodies, including the National Council of Churches (NCC), Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and Christian Churches Together (CCT).”
A137 Church of Sweden – Full Communion Relationship
“accepts the Memorandum of Understanding dated January 15, 2022 between The Episcopal Church and the Church of Sweden as the basis for a relationship of full communion between The Episcopal Church and the Church of Sweden;
“requests that the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, convey this action to the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden”
receives and commends Sharing the Gifts of Communion as set forth following as the basis for a relationship of full communion to be established between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern (ELKB) (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria);
Prepared by Richard Mammana for the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, April 2022; revised May 2022 with assistance from the Rev. David Simmons; revised July 2022
