The fragmentation of the Christian church has troubled believers for many years. Christians have long agreed that competing denominations and doctrines confuse unbelievers and slow the spread of the gospel. Long dialogues among the churches and cooperation on various levels have produced better feelings among some Christians, yet official divisions and structures remain. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America along with members of the
Episcopal Church and three denominations of the Reformed tradition
are--for the first time in this country --considering concrete steps
that could unify their ministries. These proposals would permit the
sharing of congregations and clergy and mandate that future planning
for mission be done together (see ELCA- Episcopal proposal,
ELCA-Reformed proposal and ELCA-Roman Catholic proposal, page 11).
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