[Episcopal News Service — Baltimore, Maryland] Adoption of resolutions by the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies has finalized full communion agreements between The Episcopal Church and two other churches – the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Church of Sweden. “Full communion” means clergy of one church are eligible to serve congregations of the other. In addition, bishops of both churches are to be invited to participate in each other’s services of ordination and consecration.

Churches Beyond Borders

Resolution A092, “Churches Beyond Borders,” amends Canon I.20.1 to include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as one of the churches with which The Episcopal Church is in full communion.

“Churches Beyond Borders” is a four-way joint agreement between The Episcopal Church, The Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. The Episcopal Church already is in full communion with all other Anglican Communion provinces, including Canada, and in 2001 it entered into full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through “Called to Common Mission.”

Resolution A137 places full communion with the Church of Sweden in the canons.

In 2018 the 79th General Convention acknowledged and affirmed the existence of a full communion relationship with the Church of Sweden and called on the 80th General Convention to present a memorandum of understanding setting forth the terms and procedures of that full-communion relationship. That memorandum was finalized by both churches on January 15, 2022.

What happens at General Convention?

The legislative process of General Convention is an expression of The Episcopal Church’s belief that, under God, the Church is ordered and governed by its people: laity, deacons, priests, and bishops.

The General Convention is the Church’s highest temporal authority. As such, it has the following power:

• Amend the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church
• Amend the Book of Common Prayer and to authorize other liturgical texts
• Adopt the budget for the Church
• Create covenants and official relationships with other branches of the Church
• Determine requirements for its clergy and other leaders
• Elect its officers, members of the Executive Council, and certain other groups
• Delegate responsibilities to the Interim Bodies of The Episcopal Church
• Carry out various other responsibilities and authority

Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County. We welcome you be with us as we walk the way of Jesus.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.