Does “Called to Common Mission” make the Word subordinate to ordained ministry?
No. “Called to Common Mission” explicitly affirms the “primacy of the Word” (paragraph 17). Lutherans and Episcopalians together affirm “that the historic catholic episcopate under the Word of God must always serve the Gospel, and the ultimate authority under which bishops preach and teach is the Gospel itself.” Further, the “canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments” are embraced by both churches. For both the ELCA and The Episcopal Church, the Gospel is proclaimed with the purpose of announcing “that in Jesus Christ God loves and redeems the world.” Both churches also embrace “a common understanding of God’s justifying grace” (paragraph 5).
Related Questions
- Becoming an ordained minister has changed my life, and Id like to help support the ministry that ordained me. How can I contribute to The First International Church Of The Web?
- Does "Called to Common Mission" make the historic episcopate essential to the church or to a true ministry of Word and Sacrament?
- Are candidates for Word and Sacrament ministry ordained into the historic episcopate?
