ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson Refuses to Debate CCM

May 6, 2003

The Rev. Mark D. Menacher
1264 Tonkey Road
Au Gres, MI 48703

Dear Pastor Menacher

Grace and peace to you in these most holy days in the Name of our Crucified and Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your letter of March 26, 2003, in which you request that as a vice president of the Lutheran World Federation I enter into debate with you at the Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, on the process leading to the adoption of and the content of "Called to Common Mission," the document by which the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America called for the establishment of a relationship of full communion with The Episcopal Church.

In light of the fact that the establishment of this relationship of full communion and the process leading up to the adoption of "Called to Common Mission" is an internal matter for the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and after conversation with appropriate officials of the Lutheran World Federation I respectfully decline to engage in such a conversation at the Lutheran World Federation Assembly.

As no doubt many others have pointed out to you, two drafts of "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement" were distributed throughout this church for study and comment. The content of the proposal for full communion was discussed in congregations, at synod assemblies, and among leaders of this church, including the Conference of Bishops and the ELCA Church Council. An action to adopt the agreement was placed before the 1999 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the body given the responsibility in the governing documents of this church to act on ecumenical proposals. After careful and prayerful consideration by the voting members of the assembly, "Called to Common Mission" was adopted by a 69.7 percent margin, more than the required two-thirds majority needed to establish a relationship of full communion.

It is my fervent belief that the process mandated by the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to bring to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly a proposal for establishing a relationship of full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church was carried out faithfully and with integrity. I also believe that the voting members of the 1999 Churchwide Assembly acted only after fully debating the proposal and prayerfully seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Sincerely yours,

Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop