What Does This Mean For Us - Roman Catholic/Lutheran Covenant

Were you there on September 16th? Were you there at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, when Bishop Marcus Lohrmann and Bishop James Hoffman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo signed a covenant of cooperation between our churches? It was truly an occasion to give thanks and praise to God! That magnificent house of worship rang with joy and celebration as the 300-400 voices boomed out “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The people of God grinned as the two bishops splashed water on them, reminding them that we are all washed and cleansed in the same baptismal water. We felt the Spirit’s mighty rush as the Word of God pointed to the reason we were gathered: “…one body…one Spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

As Luther often asked, “What does this mean for us?” It has already meant that our churches, along with others, were ready to cooperate to provide encouragement and support for the Islamic Academy in Toledo. It meant that the pastor and president of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Father Greg Hite, invited Bishop Lohrmann and myself to meet the students and talk with them about our shared faith, as well as the things which still divide us. It means that we are now much more fully open to work together in service ministry, in global mission, in joint learning ministries for laity and pastors, and in youth ministry. And there are scores of other ways in which our churches might partner together for the glory of God and for building up the church, the body of Christ.

What else does it mean? In means simply that Jesus’ prayer, that we might all be one (John 17) is closer to being realized now than it was before. The Holy Spirit has been working among us, for hundreds of years, to bring us closer together, to rebuild the broken walls of the universal church. We are finally allowing God to create that unity among us which is one of the greatest dreams in the heart of God.

So look around you! Identify the Roman Catholic neighbors you have, that your congregation has, and imagine the fellowship God might be calling you to. Many of our local congregations are already in such relationships. In your prayers, keep asking God to show us all the ways in which we can demonstrate on earth the unity that exists in heaven. May our relationship with our Roman Catholic friends continue to grow, that we might remember September 16, 2001 as a crucial day of renewal and rebuilding. Alleluia!