Letter to the editor: Church must be 'nimble and quick' about lay presidency

Notes: "Re: 'Bishops address concerns about "lay presidency"' (Dec. 2015, p. 1): In response to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's decision to allow lay persons to officiate at the eucharist in extraordinary circumstances, the Canadian House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada took a firm stand against such practice -- however, it seems without firm footing". "Archbishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson goes even further in suggesting that he discourages Anglicans from participating in services where a layman is presiding at the eucharist. Really ? Is he saying that four years at a theological school followed by ordination somehow changes the effectiveness of the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice ? I rather like the fact that Canadian and American Lutherans and The (American) Episcopal Church have adopted a more flexible stance on the issue. As our primate noted, 'in spite of Anglican angst .. this issue has not been detrimental to the full communion relationship between TEC and the ELCA'. One would hope that the Canadian bishops might muster the courage to express themselves with a bit more thought and in-depth analysis without worrying too much about a 'departure from the small "c" catholic order of the church'."

Subjects: Lord's Supper - Lay celebration - Lutheran Church; Lord's Supper - Lay celebration - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Lord's Supper - Lay celebration - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Lord's Supper - Lay celebration - Episcopal Church; Lord's Supper - Lay celebration - Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Episcopal Church - Relations - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops