ELCA Bishop Peter Rogness reports to the ELCA Conference of Bishops that our post, “Lutherans: Hands Off!” — is much-ado-about-nothing.
To the contrary, it’s much-ado-about-the-main-thing: The touch which alone gives bishops the special grace to ordain other clergy and make Christ present in the Eucharist.
Rogness doesn’t get it. His report shows he’s uninformed about Episcopal doctrine and practice. (See his report at the bottom of this post in two forms, one color-coded, the other not.)
1. The only thing that counts: The touch.
Rogness reports: “Larry Wohlrabe reminded me as well that 2 minutes before we processed in, the outgoing bishop, Jim Jelinek, who was to lead a series of questions put to the bishop-elect at the outset of the Rite of Consecration, told the three of us that he was going to pass the microphone around to a group of Episcopal and Lutheran bishops to ask the questions, one at a time. Which we did – all three of us – even though that meant some of the Episcopal bishops didn’t ask any. Which illustrates that (a) we were in fact part of what went on…”
No big deal. Children also took part in the ceremony. The only thing that counts, however, is the touch.
The Episcopalians protected their pipeline. It wasn’t hard. The ELCAers, like children, needed to feel involved. So Episcopal officials gave them something to do to feel important – while keeping them out of what really counts – the touch.
2. What’s really at stake for Episcopalians. See the website of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. What is front and center? The 12 co-consecrators moving to make the touch.
What Episcopalians really care about is what the Roman Catholics and the Orthodox think of them. They all keep eyes on each other. It’s all about the touch.
Episcopalians and Catholics agree on the necessity of a sacramental, hierarchical priesthood. They agree that ordination “is not an extension of the common Christian priesthood but belongs to another realm of the gifts of the Spirit.” Read here and here, and remember the Episcopalians are not yet in full communion with the ELCA (CCM ¶ 14).
Rogness’ report shows he’s uninformed about the main-thing for Episcopalians: The touch and the pipeline.
Read more here.