Called to Common Mission Celebration

by The Rev. Albert Minor and Bill Farnham
One of the great pleasures in serving as ecumenical officers was in representing this diocese at the great celebration on January 6 at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul (the "National Cathedral") in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2001. It was the formal moment in which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church entered the relationship of full intercommunion, and it was quite an event, and the cathedral was absolutely filled. The co-officiants of the occasion were our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, and Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson of the ELCA.

The visual effects of the service were striking. The cathedral building itself stands as a strong symbol of the enduring power of the Christian faith. Inside, the tall and substantial pillars soar to the final arches. The rose window over the west entrance sparkled with a kind of living radiance which was striking for this occasion. There were two great dishes heaped with hot charcoals at the great central baptismal font in the main aisle, and two more at the altar situated at the crossing which were fed with incense at appropriate times, causing great clouds of smoke to ascend to the upper stories, symbolizing our prayers and fervent hope.

The first official procession was long, consisting of all the ecumenical officers, attending bishops, and other special guests. The 710 of us entering in pairs, made a procession one third of a mile long. This filled about two thirds of the central area of the main nave of the cathedral. Your representatives were fortunate enough to be seated at the aisle just in front of the baptismal font and about 150 feet from the main altar: two of the very best seats imaginable. Much of the ceremony took place at the font of and at the altar.

Ecumenical visitors from many other communions abounded, for there is widespread interest in this act. (The ELCA is in full communion with four other reform church bodies.) Further, representatives from Orthodox and Eastern Rite Churches honored the event with their presence.

The superb choir of St. Olaf's College provided a short and beautiful concert, and supplemented the regular cathedral choir for the rest of the two and one-half hour service, which was beautifully decorated with music. Bishop Griswold preached and Bishop Anderson (ELCA) was the celebrant of the Eucharist. Receiving the Holy Communion together was a truly powerful event.

The gathering was clearly enthusiastic. All the vocal responses were strong, the energy and sound mixing in the upper vaulting of the cathedral and sounding like a creating thunder. The readers were superb, the interspersed music varied, and the intercessory prayers were proffered in English, Spanish, Swedish (we think),Vietnamese, Haitian, Latvian, and Lakota Sioux, indicating the breadth of the missions of our churches.

A renewal of our Baptismal vows was followed by the Asperges, which, in a showering of the congregation with water reminded us of our renewal vows to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being persevering in our faith in Christ. After the communion, the people were dismissed and the service ended with the great hymn, "Christ is made the sure Foundation." Following the service there was a luncheon at which the two presiding bishops made very brief comments, and where visiting with each other took place before the great gathering began to disperse.

The historical moment was completed. The achievements of many years had turned an important and decisive corner. Now the real work is to begin: to discover what life in full communion with each other will mean.

The Rev. Albert Minor and Bill Farnham serve as ecumenical officers of the Diocese of East Tennessee.