Bishop Eaton announced the formation of the group at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans in August. The core task of the 10-member group will be to develop a complimentary inter-religious statement to the 1991 policy statement on ecumenism.
Bussie, Concordia’s director of the Forum on Faith and Life and a professor of religion, looks forward to the opportunity. "It is an honor to be invited by the presiding Bishop to represent Concordia and Lutheran higher education at the table where such an important conversation regarding interfaith cooperation, service, dialogue and solidarity will take place,” says Bussie.
Members of the task force were selected because of strong expertise, practical experience, important connections to the needed voices and perspectives, and a desire to serve Christ’s church. The Rev. Patricia Lull, bishop of the St. Paul Area Synod, will serve as chair.
Concordia's interfaith cooperation statement will serve as a contributing model for the group as it designs an inter-religious statement for the entire ELCA.
“It brings my heart joy to know that the ELCA is taking such active steps toward interfaith peace-building,” Bussie says. “In a divided world, our church strives to be a beacon of compassion and unity. I am proud to belong to a community of faith that puts love into action and breathes life into our deepest hopes.”