Half of Lutherans Share Ties With 2 Churches

MINNEAPOLIS — More than half the world’s Lutherans now have compacts for sharing pulpits and Holy Communion with Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, according to a review of those ecumenical ties.

It was made by the Rev. Lewis L. Wilkins of Indianapolis, formerly on the staff of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, and presented at a Lutheran-Reformed conference here. However, Lutheran leaders noted that obstacles are still to be overcome before the newly merged 5.3-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America can enter into such fellowship.