Lutheran - United Methodist Dialogue

U.S. Lutherans and United Methodists first met in 1977 to begin official dialogue. By 1981, this first round of dialogues had produced a common statement between our churches on the Christian sacrament of Baptism; this common statement affirmed the validity of baptism administered in accord with Scripture in our churches. From 1985-1987, a second round of dialogues concluded with a common statement on the role of bishops in each of our church bodies.

Following earlier successes, September 2001 saw the beginning of a third round of dialogues between the ELCA and the United Methodist Church.  The current Lutheran-United Methodist Dialogue first considered the feasibility of recommending a relationship of full communion between our two church bodies. The dialogue team developed a proposal for Interim Eucharistic Sharing between the two churches at its meeting in August, 2004. This step has brought the ELCA and the United Methodist Church closer to a relationship of full communion. The proposal was delivered to the Department for Ecumenical Affairs and was sent to all eight ELCA seminaries. The United Methodist Council of Bishops approved the proposal on May 5, 2005.  On August 11, 2005, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted by a very wide margin in favor of the proposal (877-60).  Thus, the UMC and the ELCA now share together an agreement of Interim Eucharistic Sharing. 

Currently, St. Mark Lutheran Church and Willis United Methodist Church celebrate a joint worship service for World Communion Sunday (First Sunday in October), we hold a Vacation Bible School together in the summer, and enjoy several fellowship events throughout the year
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