Vatican/LWF Reach Agreement on Justification
by Rev. Jack Cascione

 

The Associated Press reports that the Vatican and 124 Lutheran church bodies of the Lutheran World Federation will sign an agreement on Justification on Oct. 31, 1999, in Augsburg, Germany. In its 1998 Convention the LCMS passed a resolution condemning the ELCA's participation in this agreement. The LCMS is not a part of the Lutheran World Federation.

The Lutherans led others to break away from the Catholic Church. Perhaps the Lutherans will now lead others to reunite with the Catholic Church. The trivialization of the Doctrine of Justification by many Lutheran church bodies must necessarily nullify any further need for a division between Catholics and Protestants. At this time reasons for the current division may be more institutional than doctrinal.

The LCMS Missouri District President's ease in publicly shaking the Pope's hand during the Pope's recent visit to St. Louis may signal a desire on the part of the LCMS Council of District Presidents to soften the strong Resolution adopted in the LCMS 1998 Convention.

The 1998 LCMS Convention Resolution 3-08A "To Express Deep Regret and Profound Disagreement with ELCA Actions" states in the first, Whereas, "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's...adoption of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification which claims a common understanding between Lutheran and Roman Catholics on the sinner's justification by God's grace through faith in Christ in spite of continuing lack of agreement between them on critically important aspects of the doctrine of justification -have significant implications for all Lutherans and other Christians in the United States and around the world;."

The first Resolve reads: "That in faithfulness to God's Word and the Lutheran Confessions, and motivated by our love and concern of the people and pastors of the ELCA, we express our deep regret and profound disagreement with these actions taken by the ELCA;."

 

June 11, 1999 -- 3:36 PM

Vatican, Lutherans end centuries-old dispute on salvation

GENEVA (AP) - The Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches have ended a nearly 5-century-old dispute over how people achieve salvation, officials announced Friday.

The accord represents ``a decisive step forward in the process of reconciliation,创 said Rev. Ismael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation.

After 30 years of consultations among theologians, the two sides announced agreement almost a year ago on a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, meant to resolve a doctrinal debate at the heart of the 16th century Protestant Reformation that split Western Christianity.

But differences remained on the interpretation and wording of the accord, and it took several more months to complete a three-page annex and statement clarifying the churches' position.

``It磗 not a document of compromise,创 said Cardinal Edward Cassidy, who heads the Vatican磗 office for relations with other denominations. ``It磗 a document based on truth, but in a spirit of reconciliation.创

The two sides crafted compromise language on ``basic truths创 regarding what theologians call ``justification,创 or how humankind achieves salvation.

For the Lutherans, salvation depends on the grace of God, while Catholics maintain that good works are also involved. The declaration states that divine forgiveness and salvation come ``solely by God磗 grace创 and that good works flow from that.

``We do not claim agreement on all issues related to the doctrine of justification,创 Noko said. ``Nevertheless, we have reached consensus on the principal points.创

Thursday's statement commits both sides to ``seek further common understanding of the doctrine of justification.创

Noko said the federation's 124 member churches, which represent 57 million Lutherans, had approved the agreement announced last year and did not need to act on the additions. Pope John Paul II, leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics, gave his final approval in late May.

The declaration and the new additions will be formally signed Oct. 31 in Augsburg, Germany. On that day in 1517, Martin Luther is said to have posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany - widely regarded as the launch of the Protestant Reformation.


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

June 17, 1999