Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II. Meddelanden och aktstycken - Dokument till frågan om nattvardsgemenskap med Englands kyrka av N. Söderblom - 3. To the Conference of Bishofs in the Anglican Communion
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380
meddelanden och aktstycken
to Acts VI. No need of or wish for a Diaconate as an introduction
to the Ministry has been expressed in our Church.
b. The question about laying-on of hands in Confirmation
has, in our opinion, decidedly the character of an adiaphoron.
Consequently, we have no scruples against the use of this beautiful
rite, which is practiced in our Chuch on other occasions; on the
other hand, we cannot accept it if supported by arguments that
would in any way question its character of an adiaphoron.
In this connection, we do not feel justified in pretermitting to
draw your attention to the very great importance that our Church
attaches to the thorough instruction of the first communicants in
the fundamentals of the Christian faith, as being an indispensable
condition for Confirmation — a requirement that does not seem
to be paid the same attention to in the Anglican practice of
Confirmation. Against the admission to the Lord’s Supper in our
Church of persons confirmed in the Anglican Church, hesitation
has earlier been expressed among us because of the duty of
instruction laid on the Church in Matthew XXVIII. 20. Nevertheless,
this has not prevented admission to Holy Communion in our Church
for those confirmed in the Anglican Church. We are of opinion
that both Churches may have something to learn from each other,
both with regard to the preparation for Confirmation, and to the
act itself and its significance. Thus, what has been said about the
instruction of the first communicants must be considered as a
desideratum, but not as a condition for intercommunion.
3. Lastly, in order to prevent any misunderstanding, we have
to draw your attention to the fact that the Augustana Synod in
North America and the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church in
South India, which may be considered as daughter communities
of the Church of Sweden, and with which our Church has
intercommunion and a very intimate fellowship also in other respects,
are nevertheless quite independent Churches, so that no conclusions
with regard to them can be drawn from agreements made by the
Church of Sweden for the promotion of unity in the Church of
Christ.
May God give His blessing to the more intimate connection
between our Churches that we are now establishing, and may the
Church of Christ in our countries from this connection reap rich
fruits for her spiritual life.
May we thus also be made better fitted to become instruments
in the hand of God for the establishing of the bond of unity and
peace between the disciples of Christ -all over the earth!
Stockholm, April 21, 1922.
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