Church Unity Eliminates Jobs

That assertion is obvious. If Methodists and Presbyterians both have editors of denominational magazines, then form one denomination, Methbyterians, they will have one magazine with one editor.

But the ecumenical strivings between Roman Catholics and mainline Lutherans (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as opposed to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) has another set of wrinkles on the job front. The Roman Catholic Church does not ordain women. ELCA does. In fact, the presiding bishop of the mainline Lutherans, Elizabeth A. Eaton, called her church’s approval of a statement on church unity “historic.”

“Though we have not yet arrived, we have claimed that we are, in fact, on the way to unity,” Eaton said. “This ‘Declaration on the Way’ helps us to realize more fully our unity in Christ with our Catholic partners, but it also serves to embolden our commitment to unity with all Christians.”

Why is Bishop Eaton so happy? If Roman Catholics were to unite with the ELCA, who would lose his/her job? Would Eaton give up being bishop? Would Pope Francis give up papal supremacy?

That’s one conundrum.

The other is why Roman Catholics, the Christian communion regularly promoted as traditional, conservative, historic, and the defender of the true, good, and beautiful — what is this church doing signing accords with Protestants who are known to be the opposite of traditional and conservative? Ecumenical relations between Rome and St. Louis would be newsworthy since the confessional Lutherans of the Missouri Synod are still holdouts on justification by faith alone. But when you reach agreements with church people who are in the habit of agreeing with everyone — except religious bigots — you have to wonder if the wagging you feel is from the dog or the tail.

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