WHEREAS, freedom in non-essentials is a principle of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and

WHEREAS, a considerable number of ELCA members, congregations, seminarians and pastors cannot accept that our bishops must be installed into the historic episcopate, and pastors must be ordained by bishops in the historic episcopate as required under the CCM rubric, on the grounds that their faithful understanding of adherence to Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions are compromised thereby, and;

WHEREAS, their approval for entrance to seminary, ordination and call to ministry, and/or confirmation vows were not conditioned upon the acceptance of the historic episcopate as defined in the Called to Common Mission document approved by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the ELCA Conference of Bishops, in a recent pastoral letter, expressed their “desire that implementation of ‘Called to Common Mission’ enable full participation in the ELCA of all members; be it therefore

RESOLVED, for the 2000 Assembly of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod to memorialize the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and leadership to recognize that the receiving of the historic episcopate should not be an act that is required of any Lutheran pastors, bishops, seminarians, lay ministers, or members, in order to enable full participation of all members in the ELCA.

Original Resolution submitted by

Stan Stucky, President
Immanuel Lutheran Church,
Moses Lake, Washington

Received: February 26,2001
Reworked first draft March 21,2001
Returned new resolution, March 29, 2001

Synod Reference and Counsel Committee:
Forwards without Prejudice

Passed in Eastern Washington-Idaho synod assembly.