The four area congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will hold a joint service On Oct. 31, at 7 p.m., commemorating the 497th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and also celebrating the significant work toward reconciliation accomplished in recent years by the ongoing Lutheran – Roman Catholic Dialogue.
The special guest speaker for the evening will be His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali, Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia who will speak about the ongoing work of seeking reconciliation and unity among differing branches of the Christian family. Also in attendance will be H. Julian Gordy, Bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
An offering will be collected during the service to benefit Catholic Health Initiatives-Memorial Hospital. A distinctly Roman Catholic faith-based institution with a 61-year history of offering healthcare to the residents of the Chattanooga area regardless of their background
The service will take place at Resurrection Lutheran Church at 4309 Ooltewah Ringgold Road, Ooltewah, Tn. 37363. Everyone, regardless of background is welcome to attend and participate.
The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue is an ongoing series of discussion begun in 1964 between the Roman Catholic Church, represented by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Lutheran Churches represented by the Lutheran World Federation. To date it has produced 11 joint statements of mutual understanding on topics which have traditionally divided the two churches including the groundbreaking 1989 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a fellowship of more that four million baptized Christians in the United States and The Caribbean. It is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States. In the Chattanooga area, the ELCA is represented by four congregations: Ascension Lutheran Church, in East Ridge; Christ The King Lutheran Church, in Dalton; Resurrection Lutheran Church, in Ooltewah; and Trinity Lutheran Church, in Hixson.
For further information contact Rev. Jeff P. Crim at 757 899-0418 or jpcrim1974@gmail.com.