| Summary: | 2 The Concordat! NEWS SEPTEMBER 19, 1997 ELCA moves towards Senate denies denominational unity pi on ey for •-^3 Brenda Scholten ThcConcordlan They're not merging, but they say they are exploring ways of cooperating. The 1997 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is taking steps to bring denominations closer. The ELCA has focused its efforts on the churches of the Reformed tradition, the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Religion professor Ernest Simmons, a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Department of ELCA Ecumenical Affairs, said the proposals are part of a movement which involves "talking about greater community between Christian denominations." ,., .; "[The assembly] is trying to overcome the divisions that emerged out of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century," said Simmons. Each of the three proposals trying to overcome that came before the assembly last month in Philadelphia, Pa. required a two-thirds majority vote. Two of the three passed. The 1,044 voting members con-sisted of both clergy and lay per-sons. The Joint Coordinating Committee is now implementing the resolutions adopted by the assembly. The assembly approved "full communion" with three churches of the Reformed tradition - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church Ernest Simmons "[The assembly] is divisions that out of the Reformation in the 1^16th century." Agreement. "Christianity has been splitting apart for so long. Now it's coming back together. Through Christ we share a common bond," Gilbertson said. Critics of the proposals say more harm has been done than good. "I am concerned the resolutions have become an agreement to disagree," said Robin Collins of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod). "[The ELCA] should address dif-ferences in theology, not ignore them. These agree-ments also pose the threat of the ELCA abandoning its historic position." The Concordat of Agreement, a proposal for full communion between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, fell six votes short of a two-thirds majority. Some feared the Concordat would separate and ele-vate the office of bishop over pas-tor, according to Simmons. "The ELCA is working to make the church more democratic and this would defy that," he said. The assembly did adopt a proposal asking the ELCA to return to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly with a revised proposal for full commu-nion. "Because the Concordat didn't pass, some left Philadelphia with a bitter taste in their mouths," said sopho-more Mark Western who also attended the assembly. "But many were looking forward to 1999 when everything, they say, will come down to full communion with the Episcopalians." Voting members also adopted a "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification." Justification, or the doctrine concerning how Amanda Parise in America and the United Church of Christ. ELCA was the last to vote on this proposal, approved by h u m a n s reconcile w i t h God* h a s historically gener-the other church bodies in June and July. ated controversy between the Lutherans and Roman Simmons said the change is not a consolidation, C a t h o I i c s ' according to Brown. but a "partnership" allowing for joint decision mak- "[ I n t h e >oint declaration] we are just acknowl-ing, shared mission work and alter and pulpit fel- ed«m8 * * t h e *eolog|cal understanding of both lowship. "Pastors who have been ordained in one tradition may serve a congregation of another denomination," said Vice President of Development Linda Brown, who attended the assembly as a member of the churches is today essentially the same," said Brown. "We don't need to continue with the same accusa-tions that have been in existence since the 1500s." The 124 Lutheran church bodies which make up the Lutheran World Federation will now act on the declaration. The final stage requires the Pope's approval. "What has happened with the removing of con-church council for the ELCA. "This is really being embraced in some places where two separate entities may not have enough resources to keep the church viable, but together demnations and the full communion proposal has a they can do it," said Brown. Iot o f h i s t o r i c a l significance," said Brown. "This Junior Adam Gilbertson attended the assembly as b r i n«s u s t o a n e w l e v e I o f w o r k i n 8 t o 8 e l h e r ^ a member of the Young Adult Convocation. He was b e t t e r a U o w s u s t o r e a c h u n c h u ' c h e d people and pleased with the passage of the Formula of spread the gospel." Gaming Club will be paying its own way to the Rennaisance Festival this year. Despite Gaming Club's effort to include some of the trip's cost in its budget, Student Senate voted 10-0-1 Sunday to cut the $214.80. ' • Gaming Club is an organi-zation which provides gaming opportunities and other enter-tainment on campus. Chad Czarnowski, Gaming Club president, stated that many of the club's members are inter-ested in the medieval time period and that the trip would also provide a means for the members to get better acquainted. "We'd like to make it one of our stronger ;-beginning-of-the-year events," he said. Junior senate chair jess Fulkerson compared the trip to last year's International Club trip to Mount Rushmore. The senate voted against allotting pmoney for that trip also. "This is similar to that case," said Fulkerson. "It seems like a recreational venture. I still don't think that right now it warrants an allocation." Student Senate allotted : Gaming Club $433.65 of the proposed $859.26 budget. Gaming Club also received another $210.81 from the emergency reserve fund (ERF) for new games. ;j In addition to Gaming Club," Safewaik and Student Leadership Council (SLC) pre-sented budgets at Sunday's meeting. SLC, which helps organize campus organizations and get students involved, received its entire budget of $1,960 from the senate. "We inspire stu-dents. . . to help serve the col-lege where their interests lie," said Sami Islam, SLC treasurer. Safewaik, which provides evening escorts for students on and off campus, received $231 of the $358.60 it requested from student senate. Safewaik was also allocated $64.96 from ERF. "We were unsure about monetary value. . . [the proposed allocation] was for a safety session speaker fee," said Beth Salmon, co-chair of Safewaik. She also said that they made some budgeting errors and that accounted for some of the money that was not allocated for Safewaik. Ferraro accepts Concordia's Student Association Political Affairs Week will have its keynote speaker. Geraldine Ferraro, 1984 vice-presidential candidate, accepted the invitation to speak on Oct. 16. Political Affairs Commissioner sophomore Jennifer Gayvert extend-ed an invitation to Ferraro to speak at Concordia on Oct. 16, after gain-ing Concordia's Student Senate's approval for $18,000 to foot Ferraro's speaking fee. Other events are being planned for the week of Oct. 13-17. A finan-cial aid forum and a debate between the campus political groups will take place during the week, according to Gayvert. •Weather Chance of showers on Friday and Saturday Highs: 50-70 Lows: 30-55 g • Weekend events Friday 8 p.m. Senior thesis production, Frances Frazier Comstock Lab Theatre 8 p.m. Faculty recital, Christiansen Recital Hall Saturday 11 a.m. Women's soccer vs. St. Benedict's 1 p.m. Men's soccer vs. National College 3 p.m. Family weekend faculty reception/ice cream social, Campanile 7 p.m. Family weekend showcase, Memorial Auditorium 8 p.m. Senior thesis production, Frances Frazier Comstock Lab Theatre 9 p.m. Family weekend showcase, Memorial Auditorium Sunday 10:30 a.m. Family weekend worship 2;30 p.m. Senior thesis production, Frances Frazier Comstock Lab Theatre * Borza to speak Dr. Eugene Borza will give a lecture on "The Athenian Parthenon Through the Ages" in Science 212S Sunday at 7p.m. • Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed to help with more than 500 Moorhead third grade students and a prairie restoration project. Call Jan Sedivec for more infor-mation at 236-2091. • International student festival The international students wil! tell their stories during "We welcome each other's dreams," a two day festival Sept 25-26. The festival will also include singing and dancing on Sept. 25 at the Campanile. Following the festival will be an all-campus dinner in the Knutson Center Commons. ^ Psychology Club meeting The psychology club will hold a meeting on Monday in Ivers 262A at 7:30 p.m. * Basic life support classes CPR for adults, infants and children will be held Monday from 6-10 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 7 from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Meritcare Place, 501 4th St. N. For more information call Carrie at 234-5570. Rabbi to speak Rabbi T. Gershon Blackmore of Temple Beth El, Fargo, will speak on "Convocation on our neigh-bor's faith: Judaism" at 9:50 a.m. Monday in the Centrum. ^ Habitat Week Habitat week will begin on Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Centrum. Marty Kooistra will lead an interactive presentation on the work of Habitat for Humanity. Homecoming voting All-campus voting for king and queen will take place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday outside the Centrum.
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