November 2024 UCA-LCA Dialogue meeting
The Lutheran-Uniting Church Dialogue met in early November at the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry in Melbourne
November 27, 2024
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By Greg Pietsch, Lutheran co-chair and Paul Stephens, UCA co-chair
The Lutheran-Uniting Church Dialogue met in early November at the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry in Melbourne (pictured).
The Dialogue, comprising theologians appointed by each church, has been underway for more than forty years, working through our respective confession of the faith. Much has been learned and done along the way, including coming to a Declaration of Mutual Recognition with its commitment to work toward formal altar and pulpit fellowship, and in the meantime preparing resources for local cooperating congregations.
November’s meeting shared details of each church’s rapid change in local congregations (decreasing size and viability) and in the supply of minsters/pastors (also rapid reduction in numbers) as well as changes in ministry itself, with more lay people taking significant roles. All this is in the context of the large-scale secularisation of society. The Dialogue remarked on the similarity of our situation and grappling over responses.
There is a clear correspondence in our understandings of ordained ministry and the centrality of God’s word and sacraments for our communities.
Of significant note, the Lutheran Church in Australia has recently resolved that both women and men can be ordained. The Dialogue received a formal briefing about this development at its meeting. This decision means that a significant barrier to developing shared ministries in our two traditions has been removed, recognising it will take time to implement. It is also a major step forward toward reaching one of the ongoing goals of the Dialogue of full "altar and pulpit fellowship" between our two churches.
We are also excited to soon release a study guide on At the Table, the two churches’ agreed statement on Holy Communion. This will be made available online so watch for further details. Perhaps consider it for your Lenten study next year – and why not organise to use the material in partnership with the local Lutheran church in your area?
The Dialogue is asking not just how we face each other, but how we face the wider world and not just alone but potentially together. Resourcing and encouraging local engagement and cooperation is an important part of this, as is learning from each other’s service and witness in the public domain. This work will continue as the Dialogue serves our common life in Christ.
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