Moravian Seal, or Agnus Dei, stained glass window in the Rights Chapel at Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC. Photo:JJaackman/Wikimedia Commons
This month, a Moravian pastor was installed as rector of a U.S. Episcopal Church for the first time since the two denominations inaugurated a full-communion relationship in 2011.
The Rev. Carl Southerland was formally received on Sept. 16 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, North Carolina, reports Episcopal News Service (ENS).
“It is an exciting day for the Moravian Church and the Episcopal Church,” said Southerland. “My appointment into the Episcopal Church has been a wonderful process … I’ve felt so welcome.”
Southerland served in various positions with the Moravian Church in North Carolina for 41 years before joining St. John’s, including positions as pastor at three churches.
The two denominations formalized communion on 10 February 2011. The official text of the agreement included a statement explaining, “We seek this relationship of full communion so that our mission as Christ’s church will be more effectively fulfilled and each of our communions might be more complete because of the spiritual treasures of the other.”
David Guthrie, president of the Provincial Elders Conference, Southern Province, Moravian Church in America, and Bishop G. Porter Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, officiated at Southerland’s installment, ENS reports.
Guthrie spoke about the Moravian Church’s focus on unity, quoting the Moravian Book of Order and its charge to “seek unity in Him with zeal and love.”
“Having Carl Southerland as the rector of St. John’s is an outward and visible sign of our full communion with our Moravian brothers and sisters,” Taylor said after the ceremony. “It not only pleases God to have God’s children work together in this way, it enriches both our denominations and enables us to be much more effective as ministers of Jesus Christ.”
Taylor also spoke about the need for people of faith to come together during times of strife. “In an age addicted to division, I am proud that our two churches are offering the world a different way,” he said.
“Being in full communion with Moravians and Lutherans enables all of our denominations to be more effective, more nimble, and more expansive. I am very excited for St. John’s, our diocese, and the wider churches.”