US Lutherans Back Full Communion Plan

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Following close on the heels of their Canadian

counterparts, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America has given its backing to a plan to establish "full

communion" with the (Anglican) Episcopal Church in the

United States.

Unlike the Canadians, however, the church-wide

assembly of the ELCA approved the idea in August by a

measure that was far from unanimous. Just over 69 per

cent of delegates voted in favour of a document entitled

Called to Common Mission. A two-thirds majority was

required for the motion to be passed.

The document, which must also be agreed to next

year by the general …