Bishops hail agreement among churches

DENVER — The presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said July 12 their two churches have much to learn from each other, and heralded a new agreement joining the two churches in “full communion.”

H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the 5.2 million-member ELCA, joined the General Convention meeting of the Episcopal Church in Denver and celebrated the Eucharist with Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the 2.5 million-member Episcopal Church.

Griswold and Anderson exchanged communion chalices to symbolize the unity of the “Called to Common Mission” agreement ratified by the Episcopal Church last weekend. The agreement, which was approved by Lutherans last summer, allows both churches to swap clergy and participate in common missions projects.