The ELCA is yoked to the Episcopal Church USA through Called to Common Mission (CCM), which the ELCA adopted in 1999.
ELCA leaders sold CCM as a gesture of unity, but it came at an exorbitant price.
The ELCA had to give up its Reformation heritage of gospel-freedom. Gone was the Reformation’s one office of ministry shared equally by pastors and bishops [1] . Gone was gospel-freedom to alter structures for the sake of mission.
The ELCA had to change its constitution [2] and adopt a hierarchical priesthood – three ranks of clergy, each rank with distinctive powers and plumage. It was to happen gradually over twenty years, and that is exactly what did happen.
Fast forward to 2024. At its June General Convention, the Episcopal Church adopted a resolution acknowledging that the ELCA has fulfilled CCM’s requirement to have ordained deacons as a third rank of clergy [3].
The Episcopal General Convention also elected a new Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe. Though young and cheerful, he rides a dying horse. Read about it here and here.
[1] It is said five times in the Lutheran Confessions that pastors and bishops equally share one office of ministry: Augsburg Confession 28: 30, 53, 55, Treatise 61, Smalcald Articles 10:1-3.
[2] ELCA Constitution ¶10.81.01.
[3] In 2019, the ELCA adopted “ordination” as the rite for deacons, making them a new rank of clergy. In June 2024 the Episcopal General Convention adopted Resolution A048, “’the last piece of Called to Common Mission,’ which would bring all orders into alignment.” (Melody Woerman, “Proposed Resolution would allow exchange of Episcopal, Lutheran deacons,” Episcopal News Service, May 1, 2024).