Presbyterians Approve Closer Ties to Episcopal Church

July 11, 2008

Along with eliminating homosexuality as a bar to ordination as deacon elder or minister, representatives to the recent General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. also agreed to move forward with a dialogue with The Episcopal Church aimed at encouraging closer relationships between congregations.

The agreement, which must be approved by The Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention next year, would permit Presbyterian and Episcopal clergy to perform ministerial functions in each other’s congregations “when requested and approved by the diocesan bishop and local presbytery.” It stops short of a full communion agreement like the one that The Episcopal Church signed with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2000. the rest