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Baptism and Incorporation Into the Body of Christ, the Church: Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic Trilateral Conversations 2012–2017

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Baptism and Incorporation Into the Body of Christ, the Church: Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic Trilateral Conversations 2012–2017 Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church: Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic Trilateral Conversations 2012–2017 CONTENTS Preface 11 Introduction 13 The Itinerary of These Trilateral Conversations 16 A Word about the Report’s Use of the Bible 16 Chapter One: Baptism with Respect to Sin and Grace 17 Catholic Understanding of the Relation of Baptism to Sin and Grace 18 Lutheran Understanding of the Relation of Baptism to Sin and Grace 25 Mennonite Understanding of the Relation of Baptism to Sin and Grace 29 Common Perspectives and Differences 35 Romans 5:12 and the Issue of Original Sin 35 God’s Reconciling Grace and Conversion 36 Communicating Grace in Baptism 37 Transformation and Continuing Need for Forgiveness 38 Chapter Two: Baptism: Communicating Grace and Faith 40 The Place of Baptism in the Lifelong Process of Being a Christian 40 The Celebration of Baptism 44 Sacrament and/or Ordinance 47 Baptism and Faith 50 Baptism and Community 53 Tension between our Theology and our Praxis 56 9 MQR 95 (January 2021) 10 The Mennonite Quarterly Review Chapter Three: Living Out Baptism in Discipleship 59 Personal Dimension of Living out Baptism in Christian Discipleship 62 Ecclesial Dimensions of Living out Baptism 65 Public Dimensions of Living out Baptism 69 Differing and Diverging Emphases 74 Conclusion 75 Concluding Mennonite Reflections 77 Convictions Held 77 Gifts Received 77 Challenges Accepted 78 For Consideration 79 Concluding Lutheran Reflections 80 Convictions Held 80 Gifts Received 81 Challenges Accepted 83 Concluding Catholic Reflections 84 Convictions Held 84 Gifts Received 85 Challenges Accepted 85 For Consideration 86 In Thanksgiving for Our One Baptism 86 Sources and Bibliography 90 _______________ THE STATUS OF THIS REPORT This report conveys the work and perspectives of the international commission composed of Lutherans, Mennonites, and Roman Catholics. The communions who appointed the commission members publish it as a study document in the hope that, through wide discussion both within the three communions and beyond, it will contribute to better mutual understanding and greater faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ 11 PREFACE It was with the twin goals of increasing mutual understanding and helping one another grow in faithfulness to Jesus Christ that a trilateral dialogue took place between Lutherans, Mennonites, and Roman Catholics, from 2012 to 2017. Over the course of the five-year period, the dialogue followed the well-established interchurch conversation method of annual one week meetings hosted successively by the communions. At each meeting papers were presented by delegation members as the trilateral commission explored the respective understandings of key theological and pastoral themes related to baptism and incorporation into the body of Christ. The trilateral dialogue was a result of efforts in recent decades for reconciliation and greater cooperation between Mennonites, Lutherans, and Catholics. Those steps toward overcoming historical conflicts generated the desire to take up theological and pastoral issues surrounding baptism, which continues to be a source of tension between the communions. The decision to enter into deeper theological conversation was grounded in the mutual conviction that Jesus Christ calls his disciples to be one and that therefore Christians have a solemn responsibility to never acquiesce to division in the Body of Christ. Three chapters follow the introduction in this report. The first of these, “Baptism with Respect to Sin and Grace,” presents differences and similarities in understanding the relationship of baptism to sin and grace, while also explaining briefly the history that has shaped the distinctive interpretations. Chapter Two, “Baptism: Communicating Grace and Faith,” looks at the various aspects of the celebration of baptism in each community, considering it both as the means of incorporation into the Church and as one important moment within the life-long process of being a Christian. Chapter Three, “Living Out Baptism in Discipleship,” considers how baptism should and can be lived out during the entire course of one’s life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The conclusion summarizes convictions held, gifts received, and challenges accepted by each delegation during the course of the dialogue. Recommendations for future work in follow-up trilateral dialogues are also presented. It should be noted that a trilateral dialogue is rare. Most international dialogues are bilateral and a few multilateral. The trilateral format created a uniquely enriching dynamic that nudged each communion to reflect on its own theology and practice of baptism in the light of the two other’s theology and practice. This fruitful process brought into sharper focus many convictions and practices regarding baptism as well as greater clarity in understanding the theology underlying those convictions and 12 The Mennonite Quarterly Review practices. The unique dynamic of the trilateral dialogue led also to a healthy exchange of gifts and challenges in multiple directions. With this report, we believe that Mennonites, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics not only can take a significant step towards increased mutual understanding, but also make an important contribution to the wider ecumenical conversation on baptism as it relates to the justification and sanctification of the sinner. Given the challenges of our times it is our hope that common perspectives on baptism, as communication of saving grace and faith in Jesus Christ, will serve to advance not only oneness in the body of Christ but also the evangelizing mission of the Church. + Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga Prof. Dr. Friederike Nüssel Prof. Dr. Alfred Neufeld † Roman Catholic delegation members: Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, IMC (co-chair, Colombia) Revd. Prof. William Henn, OFM Cap (USA/Italy) Revd. Prof. Luis Melo, SM (Canada) Sister Prof. Dr. Marie-Hélène Robert, NDA (France) Revd. Gregory J. Fairbanks (co-secretary, USA/Vatican, 2012-2015) Revd. Avelino González (co-secretary, USA/Vatican, 2016-2018) Lutheran delegation members: Prof. Dr. Friederike Nüssel (co-chair, Germany) Bishop Emeritus Dr. Musawenkosi Biyela (South Africa) Revd. Prof. Peter Li (Hong Kong/China) Prof. Dr. Theodor Dieter (Germany/France) Revd. Raj Bharath Patta (India/UK) Revd. Dr. Kaisamari Hintikka (co-secretary, Finland/Switzerland) Mennonite delegation members: Prof. Dr. Alfred Neufeld † (co-chair, Paraguay) Prof. Dr. Fernando Enns (Germany) Revd. Rebecca Osiro (Kenya) Prof. Dr. John Rempel (Canada) Revd. Dr. Larry Miller (co-secretary, France/USA) Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ 13 INTRODUCTION For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13).1 1. One of the most widely distributed and positively received ecumenical agreements in history—the Faith and Order convergence statement Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM) of 19822—affirmed that, “Through baptism, Christians are brought into union with Christ, with each other, and with the church of every time and place. Our common baptism, which unites us to Christ in faith, is thus a basic bond of unity. The union with Christ which we share through baptism has important implications for Christian unity.”3 Nevertheless, baptism has been a source of disagreement and division between our three traditions. 2. The trilateral conversations between Mennonites, Lutherans, and Catholics on baptism,4 about which the following pages will report, trace their origin to the positive outcome of earlier international bilateral dialogues between our communities. The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) engaged in a round of international conversations from 1998 to 2003, which resulted in the report entitled Called Together to be Peacemakers.5 Its report noted that, Mennonites and Catholics are agreed on the basic meaning and importance of baptism as a dying and rising with Christ, so that ‘just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we 1. The English translation of the Bible used in this document is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), (Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, copyright 1989, 1995). 2. Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM), Faith and Order Paper 111 (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1982); text available at https://www.oikoumene.org/en/ resources/documents/commissions/faith-and-order/i-unity-the-church-and-its-mission/ baptism-eucharist-and-ministry-faith-and-order-paper-no-111-the-lima-text [accessed Dec. 1, 2018]. 3. Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, 2, D6. 4. The word “baptism” is written in lower case in the body of this report, except when quoting from documents which use capitals. 5. Called Together to Be Peacemakers: Report of the International between The Catholic Church and the Mennonite World Conference, 1998-2003. Text available in Jeffrey Gros, Thomas F. Best, Lorelei F. Fuchs (eds), Growth in Agreement III, Faith and Order Paper 207 (Geneva: World Council of Churches 2007), 206-267; text available at https://mwc- cmm.org/sites/default/files/report_cathomenno_final_eng.pdf and at http://www.vatican .va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/mennonite-conference-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_
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