Lutheran-Catholic Covenant
On October 29, 2000, the Diocese of Youngstown and the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America entered into an historic Covenant based on prayer, study and action.

Action Plan 2008-2011
Bishop Murry and Bishop Eaton approved of the Action Plan 2008-2011 prepared by the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Commission.

Members of the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Commission

Covenant Celebration 2007: Bread of Life
Lutherans and Catholics from across northeast Ohio marked the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Celebration 2007 with an Oct. 28 gathering at St. Joan of Arc Church. Theme for the day was “Bread of Life: Roman Catholic and Lutheran Understandings of the Eucharist.” The presenters were the Rev. Cheryl Peterson of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, and Jesuit Father Jared Wicks of John Carroll University, Cleveland. Father Wicks [told the assembly] that “Partaking of Christ’s body and blood in Holy Communion places the believer at the intersection of the past, present and future: the past, in the memorial of Jesus’ historical death and resurrection for us and for our salvation; a present encounter with him who said, ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I [in] them’; and the future of eternal life and resurrection.” Rev. Dr. Peterson [observed]that “among Protestants, Lutherans have arguably the strongest sacramental realism, a point of connection with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.” She [noted that the]“1967 dialogue came to understand that the real disagreement is not on the fact that Christ is present in the Eucharist but on the particular manner of how Christ becomes present ...

Lutherans and Catholics Working Together
Father Noga, pastor of Youngstown St. Patrick Parish, and Rev. Heine, of Martin Luther Lutheran Church, lead inner-city churches on the city’s South Side. They preside over blended congregations. They live on or near church property, so they are acutely aware of social and economic problems in their neighborhoods, especially in terms of home foreclosures and abandoned properties. Read more in the Catholic Exponent.

Reformed-Catholic Dialogue Presents Papers on Eucharist
The seventh-round discussion of the Reformed-Catholic Dialogue continues to study contemporary forms of Eucharistic worship and how they can open awareness of mutual understanding between Catholics and Reformed Christians. The ELCA participated as an observer. Visit the USCCB Ecumenical Site web site to learn more.

Covenant Celebration 2009
Plans are underway for the next biannual Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Celebration on Sunday, September 20, 2009, at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Northeastern Ohio Synod
Visit the ELCA NEO Synod web site to learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
Visit the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown web site to learn more about the Roman Catholic Church.