TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD Diakonia in the Life of the Church The Jerusalem Report of the Anglican–Lutheran International Commission (ALIC III) TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD Diakonia in the Life of the Church The Jerusalem Report of the Anglican–Lutheran International Commission (ALIC III) To Love and Serve the Lord Diakonia in the Life of the Church The Jerusalem Report of the Anglican–Lutheran International Commission (ALIC III) Editorial assistance: Cover: LWF/DTPW staff LWF/OCS staff Anglican Communion Office staff Photo: ACNS/ Neil Vigers Design and Layout: Photo research and design: LWF/OCS staff LWF/DTPW staff Anglican Communion Office staff ISBN 978-2-940459-24-7 Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................. 4 I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 6 II. Diakonia Dei/Missio Dei—The Shared Imperative ......................................................... 10 III. Diakonia, Koinonia and the Unity of the Church ........................................................... 16 IV. Historical Approaches to Diakonia and the Diaconate .................................................... 22 Lutheran approaches to diakonia and the diaconate ....................................................................23 Anglican approaches to diakonia and the diaconate .....................................................................25 Diakonia and the journey towards unity ......................................................................................27 Diakonia in Lutheran ecumenical dialogues ................................................................................28 Diakonia in Anglican ecumenical dialogues ................................................................................29 Anglican-Lutheran dialogues .......................................................................................................29 Diakonia as a source of unity ....................................................................................................... 31 V. Diakonia and Ministry .................................................................................................... 34 The diakonia of the whole Church ...............................................................................................37 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 40 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 42 Preamble ......................................................................................................................................42 A. For parishes and other local groups .........................................................................................43 B. For dioceses, districts and national or regional churches .........................................................43 C. For institutions of theological education and formation ..........................................................43 D. For the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran World Federation ......................................43 E. Coordinating Committee ........................................................................................................44 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 46 Appendix 1: Regional reports ......................................................................................................46 Appendix 2: Transitivity ..............................................................................................................52 Appendix 3: Recommendations for Anglican–Lutheran pastoral relations ..................................53 Electronic Documents .................................................................................................................56 Members of the Anglican–Lutheran International Commission (ALICIII) 2006–2011 ......... 58 TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD 3 Preface One of the joys of the work of co-chairs of ecu- ed this ALIC with a reality different from that menical dialogues is to commend to our member faced by earlier commissions; there was a grow- churches and to the wider Church the completed ing wealth of experience on which to draw. At work of a bilateral dialogue commission. In this the same time, their work can now return to local case, we are especially pleased to present with this and regional settings with a renewed invitation: report a new phase in the maturity of relations come on further! between our Anglican and Lutheran churches. For these next steps, this commission found There are several dimensions of this new that this is the moment to focus first not on how maturity. Theologically, it is most important that to give more visible expression to the unity which our two church families no longer confront is- exists between our two communions, but, rather, sues between them that need be church dividing. drawing on our growing experience with one an- While important differences remain, of course, other, on why growth in relations between Angli- this third phase of our Anglican–Lutheran In- can and Lutheran churches is possible. It trusts to ternational Commission (ALIC) did not need specific contexts the discernment of the most ap- to put these differences at the centre of its work. propriate ways forward toward communion. Ex- Thus it was able to pioneer in the presentation of amples and shared wisdom can be inspiring and this report: it is focused on diakonia and the full- helpful for these efforts. There is, however, no pro- ness of its expression in the spirit of the proph- posal here for some unified formula for our two ets and the gospel of Jesus the Son of God (Isa international bodies. Rather, this report speaks to 61:1–3; Lk 4:16–21). It engages its readers in its the growth in faithful mission that growth in com- stories of the faithful ministry of our churches as munion both encourages and requires. This report well as in their ecclesial theology. It draws fully is intended for a wide audience. Its implications on perspectives from the global diversity that is reach out to all of our churches as we seek to re- transforming the lives of both our communions. spond to God’s call to faithfulness. In many of our This report illustrates the crucial interac- churches our worship concludes with the sending tion at all levels of ecumenical engagement, from of the people to go “to love and serve the Lord.” the congregational to the regional and interna- These words, chosen as the title for this report, are tional dimensions. In many parts of the world, also our hope and charge for our churches: let us missional collaboration between Lutherans and go—together—to love and serve the Lord. Anglicans is already firmly established. In several regions there are formal relations of full com- Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Anglican co-chair munion. Growth in these relationships present- Bishop Thomas Nyiwe, Lutheran co-chair 4 TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD I. INTRODUCTION TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD 5 © ACNS/ Neil Vigers I. Introduction You are my friends if you do what I command you In its journey from Moshi to Jerusalem, the (Jn 15:14). Anglican–Lutheran International Commission has seen powerful images of such ministry: The friendship to which Jesus calls us is to be one with him in his mission in the world. To be a disciple • Moshi, Tanzania: Breaking the silence of Jesus is to live by his teaching given in Matthew about HIV and AIDS 25:31–46, which calls us to feed the hungry, refresh the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, • Halifax, Canada: Pursuing truth and recon- tend the sick and visit the imprisoned. Alongside ciliation with First Nations Peoples such compassionate service is the call “to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the • Chennai, India: Embracing the Dalits in blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Lk 4:18). communities of justice 6 TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD • Alingsås, Sweden: Providing daily bread, Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that advice and opportunities for self-help are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave • Columbus, USA: Taking courageous action me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was to challenge slavery and human trafficking a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and • Jerusalem, the Holy Land: Healing the you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when wounds of the present generation and edu- was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and cating the next generation of peace makers. gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And In all these places, people speak of their daily when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” work as participating in the work of Christ, re- And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it flecting a commitment to his gospel. The Church to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did calls this diakonia. it to me.” Then he will