On 3 September 1989, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Latvia and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in exile adopt a joint Declaration in which the two Churches recognise one another.
From 12 to 16 February 1990, the 1st conference of the Coordination Commission takes place in Freudenthal, Germany. Taking part from Latvia are Archbishop K. Gailītis, provost M. Plāte, pastors E. Bikše, Prof. R. Feldmanis, J. Rubenis, and J. Vanags. From the Church in exile – Archbishop A. Lūsis, provost V. Vārsbergs, pastors J. Cālītis, M. Ķirsons, M. Kristbergs, L. Saliņš (USA and Canada), provost L. Mužiks, pastors J. Jurģis and G. Putce (Great Britain), J. Ozoliņš (Sweden), G. Abakuks, P. Vīgants, G. Ansons (Germany).
At this 1st conference, the Freudenthal Declaration is adopted, which stated that “the aim of this cooperation is a free Latvia and a united Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia”. As a means of achieving this aim, the Coordination Commission was created, for which eight tasks were defined: “Meeting regularly: 1) to promote the exchange of views and experience, 2) to deepen trust and understanding, 3) to develop common theological positions, 4) to coordinate the Church’s activity in changing political circumstances, 5) to coordinate representation and action at international meetings, 6) to promote active cooperation in the field of theological education, 7) to promote relations between sister congregations and the exchange of pastors and students, 8) to seek a common structure for our special mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the Latvian people.” It was established that “the Coordination Commission consists of eight members: from the Church in Latvia – 3, Western Europe – 2, America (LELBA) – 2, Australia – 1. Both archbishops are members of the Coordination Commission ex officio.” In accordance with this distribution, the following are elected to the Coordination Commission, from Latvia: A. Kavacis, J. Rubenis, J. Vanags; from America – V. Vārsbergs, J. Cālītis; from Europe – J. Ozoliņš, E. E. Rozītis; from Australia – K. Macpherson. Chairman of the commission E. E. Rozītis, deputy chairman of the commission J. Rubenis, secretary V. Vārsbergs.
From June 1990 to October 1991, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sessions of the Coordination Commission take place. Topics: a common Hymnal, a common liturgical understanding, the Faculty of Theology in Latvia, Sunday school work in Latvia, the creation of a Christian school, a printing house and newspaper, diaconal work, the Bible Society, practical questions.
From 4 to 12 August 1991, the 5th session of the Coordination Commission takes place in Sandby (Sweden). On the commission, the European representative J. Ozoliņš is replaced by Ieva Graufede, head of the Swedish administration and a pastor. Topic: theology, taking as a basis the Lima Document “Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry”, drawn up in 1982 by all the major Christian denominations. There follow the prepared introductory papers on this topic, given by Archbishop K. Gailītis, V. Vārsbergs, E. E. Rozītis, and J. Cālītis. On the basis of the Lima Document, recommendations are adopted for both Churches “On the Sacrament of Holy Baptism” and “On the Sacrament of Holy Communion”. The commission agrees to continue this topic at the next session.
Source: E. E. Rozītis, provost, chairman of the Coordination Commission “Cut or Broken Bread”, published in “The Calendar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia for 1992” (“Svētdienas Rīts”, 1991), pp. 82-85.
From 21 to 27 January 1992, the 6th session of the Coordination Commission takes place in Schöffau (Schoffau), Bavaria, in whose core membership the following take part: from Latvia – Archbishop K. Gailītis, J. Kavacis, J. Rubenis, and J. Vanags; from North America – J. Cālītis and V. Vārsbergs; from Europe – I. Graufelde and E. E. Rozītis; as well as guests.
On the agenda: 1) recommendations are adopted unanimously to restore a united Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, consisting of the ELCL and the ELCL Abroad, to create a unified Church structure with one archbishop and two bishops, to convene a Grand Synod, and to elect a Council of Representatives; it is recommended that the first Grand Synod be convened in the period from 1993 to 1995; 2) recommendations “On Spiritual Office” are adopted, consisting of seven points, in one of which it is stated: “As a Church that ordains women, we associate ourselves with the following note of the Lima Document: ‘Churches which ordain women do so on the basis of an understanding of the Gospel and of spiritual office which rests on a serious theological conviction that the Church’s ordained ministry lacks fullness if it is limited to one sex alone. This theological conviction is strengthened by the experience of the years since women have been admitted to ordained office. These Churches have recognised that the gifts of women are as broad and varied as those of men, and that their ministry is blessed by the Holy Spirit as fully as that of men. None of them has found reason to reconsider its decision.’ (Lima Document, paragraph 18, note).”
Sources: The article by provost Elmārs Ernests Rozītis, chairman of the Coordination Commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, “On the Unity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia”, published in the joint publication of the ELCL Consistory and the ELCL Abroad “The Yearbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia for 1993” (Svētdienas Rīts, 1992), pp. 157-160. The article by provost Juris Cālītis, member of the Coordination Commission, “The Lima Document: On Baptism, Eucharist and Spiritual Office”, published in the joint publication of the ELCL Consistory and the ELCL Abroad “The Yearbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia for 1993” (Svētdienas Rīts, 1992), pp. 161-165.
In April 1992, the 15th General Synod of the ELCL takes place, at which, by a considerable majority of votes (76 for, 2 against, 2 abstentions), the decision is adopted: “The Latvian Synod accepts/adopts in principle the recommendations of the Schöffau session of the Coordination Commission ‘On the Unity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia’ and asks the Consistory, within the framework of these recommendations, to take part in convening a joint Grand Synod with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia outside Latvia and in establishing joint activity.”
Sources: The article by provost Elmārs Ernests Rozītis, chairman of the Coordination Commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, “On the Unity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia”, published in the joint publication of the ELCL Consistory and the ELCL Abroad “The Yearbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia for 1993” (Svētdienas Rīts, 1992), p. 157.
On 22 November 1992, Archbishop Kārlis Gailītis is killed in a car accident while hurrying to the service for the Day of Remembrance of the Dead in Sabile.
From 23 to 28 November 1992, the 9th session of the Coordination Commission is to take place in Kiel, about which the chairman of the commission E. E. Rozītis writes: “In vain we waited at the airport for Archbishop Kārlis Gailītis; instead we received the news of his death, but from Latvia there took part the present bishop Jānis Vanags, the first councillor of the Consistory Georgs Zālītis, and pastor Juris Rubenis. From the Church outside Latvia, E. E. Rozītis, provosts I. Graufelde, V. Vārsbergs, J. Cālītis, and lawyer A. Grots.”
Source: The article by provost Elmārs Ernests Rozītis, chairman of the Coordination Commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, “A Review of the Reunification Work”, published in the joint publication of the ELCL Consistory and the ELCL Abroad “The Yearbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia for 1994” (Svētdienas Rīts, 1994), p. 123.
On 26 January 1993, an extraordinary Synod of the ELCL takes place, at which pastor Jānis Vanags is elected archbishop of the ELCL.
Your articles, research, documents, and accounts of recollections may be posted in this section of the website on this topic.
Website editor