by David Skidmore

[ENS] The first participation by an Episcopal bishop in an ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took place fittingly in the former diocese of Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and the backyard of ELCA Presiding Bishop George Anderson, whose office is in Chicago.

Bishop William Persell of the Diocese of Chicago joined his Lutheran counterpart, Bishop Kenneth Olsen, in laying hands on three candidates for ordained ministry at the June 1 annual assembly of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, held in St Charles.

Persell, who also presided at the ordination Eucharist, described the event as another sign of a commitment of the diocese and synod to "living out of our new relationship." He said that it was exciting to share in the ordination, "and to realize that we are coming together in a very significant way."

Proving that is not a one-way agreement, Bishop Olsen reciprocated two weeks later by participating at the diocese's Ember Day ordinations at St. James Cathedral, Chicago.

While some aspects of the Lutheran liturgy were familiar, Persell saw his role as a learning opportunity. The direct ordinations of Seth Moland-Kovash, Kathryn North, and Karen O'Malia were unique, he noted, since the Episcopal Church requires candidates for priesthood first to be ordained deacons and serve in that office for at least six months before being considered for ordination to the priesthood.

Persell found some merit in the Lutheran approach to ministry. "In some ways that makes sense. We should at least look at moving in that direction," he said.

The ELCA has historically maintained a single ordained ministry but it recognizes diaconal ministry, and trains and commissions persons for that ministry. With the inauguration of full communion, it will now alter its installation rite for bishops to include participation and the laying on of hands by other bishops in the historic episcopate. But the agreement does not require the ELCA to ordain deacons.

It was Persell's second opportunity to preside at a Eucharist in a Lutheran setting. The first was the joint celebration of full communion by the Diocese of Chicago and the two northern Illinois ELCA synods at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville March 31. Joining him at that service were Olsen and Bishop Gary Wollersheim of the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA based in Rockford. All three bishops are committed to pursuing closer cooperation on congregational development and peace and justice advocacy.

(David Skidmore is Director of Communications for the Diocese of Chicago)