Letter to the editor : Validity question still up in the air

Notes: "Your editorial favoring increased dialogue with the Lutheran church, including possible eucharistic sharing leaves up in the air and avoids one thorny problem that clouds Anglican-Lutheran relations -- namely, the validity of Lutheran orders". "The fact that the Roman Church and some Orthodox churches fail to recognize the validity of our Anglican orders hinders discussion on unity from those churches' side, not ours. The fact remains, however, that at the time of the Reformation Martin Luther ordained ministers outside the apostolic succession. Until the question of the validity of Lutheran orders can be satisfactorily answered, the question of eucharistic sharing must remain up in the air, as it could conceivably recognize the validity of a sacrament consecrated by a minister who has not been validly ordained to the priesthood".

Subjects: Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - Lutheran Church; Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Anglican orders; Apostolic succession - Anglican Communion; Apostolic succession and Christian union; Interim sharing of the Eucharist; Lord's Supper and Christian union; Ordination - Lutheran Church; Ordination and Christian union