Complete Story
02/13/2013
Lutheran Church in Ethiopia Severs Relationship with ELCA
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is severing its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Church of Sweden and "those churches who have openly accepted same-sex marriage." The action for "all Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus departments and institutions (at every level) to implement this decision" was ratified at the denomination's general assembly, which met January 27- February 2 in Addis Ababa. The denomination's church council took action at its July 2012 meeting to initially sever these relationships.
"The ELCA is very saddened by this decision," said the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director for ELCA Global Mission. "The ELCA and its predecessor church bodies have been walking with the people of Ethiopia for more than 50 years, and our sister church, the Church of Sweden, for more than 150 years. In this journey, we have learned from one another, we have deepened and extended the bonds of fellowship and partnership in the gospel." Malpica Padilla was in Addis Ababa for meetings with program and ministry partners of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.
To ensure that the decisions by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus are implemented, members of the denomination "will not receive Holy Communion from the leadership and pastors of the (ELCA and the Church of Sweden). The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus will not distribute communion to these churches," as stated in the minutes of the denomination's July 2012 council meeting. "Representatives of these churches at national level or leaders at every level would not be invited to preach or speak at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus congregations or other gatherings. They should not be invited for any spiritual ministries of this church,"stated the minutes, which also reflects that leaders and pastors of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus "at every level will not visit the synods, dioceses, congregations and national offices of churches that have accepted this practice without proper permission from the head office of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus."
While the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is "closing the door to this partnership," Malpica Padilla said that the ELCA and the Church of Sweden "are not locking the doors from our side. It is open for when you decide it is time to resume this journey together. It is my hope that in the near future, we will again walk together in Christian love.We will do this not because of doctrinal agreements or consensus, but because the gospel compels us to do so." The ELCA has consistently kept its Lutheran companion churches informed about the ELCA's process that led to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly decisions, which included the adoption of a social statement on human sexuality, said Malpica Padilla. "We shared the study documents and invited their input," he said. "When decisions were made, we wrote to (leaders of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus) expressing our commitment to not impose our actions and to respect the policy and practice of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus in the assignment of mission personnel," he said.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the actions of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus are "deeply troubling." "Our own statement on human sexuality acknowledges that the position held by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is also held by members of the ELCA. We are not of one mind, but we are one in Christ, in faith and in baptism," said Hanson, adding that the relationships between Lutherans in North America and in Ethiopia "has been sustained through periods of oppression, divisions within the Ethiopian church and in times of turmoil among Lutherans in North America. The action of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus church diminishes our capacity together to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to serve our neighbors and to care for the creation. "As the ELCA, we are always standing ready to open the door of conversation for the sake of reconciliation and our shared commitment to proclamation and service," Hanson said. "Reconciliation is not an option. It is given in Christ, and we stand ready to engage with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus on what this gift of reconciliation might mean for us now."
1 Comment
Craig Fourman on Wednesday 02/13/2013 at 03:04 PM
We really do theology badly in this church - having lost the capacity to speak dogmatically to one another about anything, we resort to making comments on blog posts or taking non binding(?) votes on complex theological matters. But I want to say that on the floor of the 09 Assembly, I specifically asked the Rev. Padilla if we had fully considered how far and how fast we had moved beyond our brethren on this issue and could there not be some interim ground staked out that would honor what was, for them, a value stemming from a very different history and culture from our own; a history and culture that many, indeed most, of our delegates were completely unaware. It was not the sense of the Assembly on that day nor the opinion of the chair that these were issues worthy of any delay. I noted not everyone had "processed' the issue as we had and it was unrealistic to assume that they would or even could. "If not now, when" was the response. So we moved ahead. This is a consequence of that decision and for our Presiding Bishop to say it is 'deeply troubling' is puzzling in light of it. What did he expect? What for me is "deeply troubling" is our disregard of other churches and their cultures. Space limitations inhibit a more complex discussion of this issue but I agree that it is indeed deeply troubling and sadly it was completely avoidable. But we are, after all, in the forgiveness business, so I once more defer to the Spirit and pray for our church.
