The Rt. Rev. Terry A. White, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, and the Rev. Dr. William O. Gafkjen, bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will celebrate the establishment of a new ELCA worshipping community at Christ Episcopal Church in Elizabethtown with a service of healing and hope on Tuesday, January 25.

Held on the last day of the worldwide observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the service will begin at 6 p.m. (EST) at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 Poplar Ave., in downtown Elizabethtown. 

Participants will lift up the new, mutually supportive relationship between ELCA members and Episcopalians. The new worshiping community enables members to draw on each other's strengths, forge new relationships and share resources, gifts and passions.

The supportive relationship between the Episcopal congregation and ELCA members began last December after the House of Prayer Lutheran Church decided to leave the ELCA synod and affiliate with The North American Lutheran Church in response to the ELCA's decision in 2009 to allow clergy who were in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.  Five and a half years ago, Christ Church experienced a similar split when members of its congregation left The Episcopal Church.

Indiana-Kentucky Synod Bishop William Gafkjen is grateful that the members of Christ Episcopal Church welcomed House of Prayer members on Christmas Eve by using the Lutheran Book of Worship and liturgy for one of their services. Gafkjen adds:

"When the House of Prayer congregation decided in December to disaffiliate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a number of people who remain committed to and excited about the mission and ministry of the ELCA, found themselves without a congregational home. This celebration is a chance for these folks to experience the healing, hopeful presence of God and to know that they are not alone. Others who share the ELCA's commitment to ministries of mercy and justice rooted in the forgiveness and grace of God for all people stand with them. From here forward, Lutheran and Episcopalian leadership will work with them - and anyone else who is interested - to establish a new ELCA worship and mission community in Elizabethtown. We are excited to see what God has in store through this call to common mission."

Episcopal and ELCA congregations enjoy a relationship of shared ministry that began 10 years ago this month with the adoption of the Lutheran Episcopal agreement "Called to Common Mission." The agreement brings together ELCA and Episcopal churches to mutually recognize baptism and Holy Communion, share pastors and establish worshiping communities that share the mission strategy of the combined denominations.

For additional information, contact one of the following:

Danielle Burrus, Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA Communications, at dburrus@iksynod.org or 317-253-3522 (cell 317-490-5199).

Mary Jane Cherry, Diocese of Kentucky Communications, at maryjane@episcopalky.org or 502-584-7148 (cell 502-551-8542)