ELCA Bishops, Vatican Leader, Reflect on Joint Declaration, October 1-2, 2004

Cardinal Walter Kasper, third from left, The Vatican's senior ecumenical officer, visited the churchwide offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Oct. 1-2. He preached at a "Solemn Evening Vespers" service Oct. 1 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Ill. Worship leaders were, from left, the Rev. Paul R. Landahl, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, Chicago; Kasper; and the Rev. Timothy J. Lyne, former auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago. ELCA bishops from throughout the United States and Caribbean, ELCA synod vice presidents, ELCA seminary presidents and St. Luke's members attended. Kasper visited the ELCA in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany, a significant international theological agreement between Lutherans and Catholics. (Photo by Mike Watson, The Lutheran Magazine)

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, left, ELCA presiding bishop, and Cardinal Walter Kasper, The Vatican's chief ecumenical officer, pray before leading a "Solemn Evening Vespers" service Oct. 1 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Ill. The ELCA Conference of Bishops, ELCA synod vice presidents, ELCA seminary presidents and St. Luke's members attended.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops, ELCA synod vice presidents, ELCA seminary presidents and St. Luke's members attended a "Solemn Evening Vespers" service Oct. 1 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Ill. Guest preacher was Cardinal Walter Kasper, The Vatican's senior ecumenical officer. Kasper visited the ELCA churchwide offices in Chicago to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops, ELCA synod vice presidents, ELCA seminary presidents and St. Luke's members attended a "Solemn Evening Vespers" service Oct. 1 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Ill. Guest preacher was Cardinal Walter Kasper, The Vatican's senior ecumenical officer, right. From left is the Rev. Michael L. Burk, ELCA director for worship, and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. Kasper visited the ELCA churchwide offices in Chicago to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, right, was guest preacher at a "Solemn Evening Vespers" service Oct. 1 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge. Seated, from left, is the Rev. Michael L. Burk, ELCA director for worship, and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, both of Chicago. ELCA bishops from throughout the United States and Caribbean, ELCA vice presidents and ELCA seminary presidents attended the special event, held in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany. The Joint Declaration is a significant international theological agreement between Lutherans and Catholics. (Photo by Mike Watson, The Lutheran magazine)

Cardinal Walter Kasper, right, and the Rev. Michael Burk, ELCA director for worship, open a worship service at the ELCA churchwide offices in Chicago Oct. 2. Kasper was guest preacher at the service, which included ELCA bishops, synod vice presidents and seminary presidents. Kasper visited the ELCA and spoke to the Lutheran leaders about the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. October 31 is the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration.