U.S. Lutherans approve document recognizing agreement with the Catholic Church

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By Emily McFarlan Miller | 12 hours ago

(RNS) Nearly 500 years after Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Castle Church door, the largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S. has approved a declaration recognizing “there are no longer church-dividing issues” on many points with the Roman Catholic Church.

The “Declaration on the Way” was approved 931-9 by the 2016 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly held last week at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton called the declaration “historic” in a statement released by the denomination following the Wednesday (Aug. 10) vote.

“Though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity. … This ‘Declaration on the Way’ helps us to realize more fully our unity in Christ with our Catholic partners, but it also serves to embolden our commitment to unity with all Christians,” Eaton said.

http://religionnews.com/2016/08/15/u-s-lutherans-approve-document-recognizing-agreement-with-the-catholic-church/

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/lutheran/upload/Declaration_on_the_Way-for-Website.pdf

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1. Years ago I attended a Lutheran/Catholic wedding in a Lutheran Church.

Some of the more conservative and generally older Catholics in the family wouldn't set foot in a Lutheran church, they only attended the reception.

One thing I learned as a kid from my mom's fiery religious adventures and misadventures was how to be comfortable in any church that welcomed me and even a few that wouldn't have if they knew me.

I appreciate your thoughtful posts in this group. Thanks.

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2. Last Christmas I went to a Lutheran Christmas service conducted in German.

My daughter had just started taking German in middle school and her teacher invited the class to experience it. It was a small, cozy service in a small cozy church. Yet it felt familiar. Ironic since I was recalling old Masses said in Latin which I couldn't understand either.

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3. I've been to a few Tridentine masses

Back in the 90s when the John Paul first started allowing churches to have Latin Masses the Basilica in Dyersville offered such a Mass. I decided to go out there and see what one of those was like since I was born after the Second Vatican Council - what Mass was like for my parents growing up.

There's a beauty and other world-ness to the Latin Mass that you don't see in other services.

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4. There is that but hearing it in your own language does draw you in more.

Although, I do remember people following along - religiously - with the Latiin on one page and the English on the other.