Nevile, Donald C.

English

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 28
Issue 1 Waterloo Lutheran Seminary Lutheran Life
Lectures 1998-2001
Article 22
5-1-2002
A companion to the Waterloo Declaration
Donald C. Nevile
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
Part of the Practical Theology Commons
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Nevile, Donald C. (2002) "A companion to the Waterloo Declaration," Consensus: Vol. 28 : Iss. 1 , Article 22.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22
Book Reviews 161 
liturgical time, both in the sense of weekly liturgy and the liturgical 
calendar, seeing the time of worship as not so much cyclical as spiral. 
This is more and more rare today. 
On p. I 0 she uses a word unknown to this reviewer: intussusception. 
Is this an Anglican term, or a misprint? This aside, Wilson-Kastner, 
throughout her argument, connects liturgy with life in a coherent, realistic 
way, and picks her way carefully through the heresies of liturgy as 
totally unworldly versus liturgy as entirely culturally determined. It is 
eschatology, finally, which is the key to the "spirituality" of her title. 
This reviewer, who is sympathetic to the interpretation of liturgy as 
drama, found the book very helpful and useful. with lots of good ideas 
for preaching on eucharist. Unhappily, as the back cover reports, Patricia 
Wilson-Kastner died in 1998. 
Donald C. Nevile 
Highwood Lutheran Church 
Calgary, Alberta 
An Essential Unity: A Contemporary Look at Lutheran and 
Episcopal Liturgies 
David Veal 
Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse, 1998 
90 pages, $13.95 Softcover 
A Companion to the Waterloo Declaration 
Richard Legett, Editor 
Toronto, ON: Anglican Book Centre, 1999 
125 pages, $16.00 Softcover 
For all Lutherans who are interested in the upcoming agreement 
between the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada, here are two 
small but useful books. The first, by American Anglican Canon David 
Veal, provides a comparison between Lutheran and American Episcopal 
liturgies . He begins by defining some parameter : both churches are 
liturgical; liturgy is a corporate worship experience; and both churches 
are based on a common familiarity with the historic liturgical forms. 
He also points out some well-known differences: the fact that Anglicans 
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002
162 Consensus 
are bound to the Book of Common Prayer and its descendants, whereas 
Lutherans are bound to the Augsburg Confessions. Yet, he observes, 
we share belief in the nature and efficacy of the sacraments, and the 
catholicity of the church. 
He provides some American history of the two church bodies, of 
minor interest to Canadian readers. Then follows a detailed outline and 
commentary on the rites of Holy Communion of both churches. His 
study points out minor variations between the two liturgies, but observes 
that they are essentially the same rite. His source for information on 
the Lutheran liturgy is Pfatteicher's Manual on the Liturgy and the 
recently published ELCA document, The Use of the Means of Grace. 
In a helpful touch, the LBW mbrical numbers are used as a reference 
guide to both liturgies. 
He explains why and how the fraction and elevation have 
disappeared from both the Anglican and Lutheran eucharistic liturgies 
( 49). He comments on how strange for most Anglicans is the Lutheran 
use of individual glasses, and how some Anglicans might be scandalized 
(as are some Lutherans!) by this (51). He reminds us that the benediction 
should be offered by the ranking clergy present (53). He conclude!> by 
observing that both Lutheran and Anglican eucharistic liturgies contain 
all the essentials outlined in the World Council of Churches 1992 Lima 
Liturgy. 
Veal goes on to compare the baptismal liturgies of the two churches. 
The forms, he observes, are identical, although the Episcopal liturgy is 
somewhat longer, with a five-petition renunciation of evil based on Jesus' 
temptation, and a five-fold promise by the baptized outlining the nature 
of the baptismal covenant. He also notices that, where the Lutheran 
rite simply discourages sprinkling, the Episcopal rite forbids it. 
There is a brief section on ceremonial: standing, kneeling, vestments, 
and so on. He astutely comments that this is a dimension of Evangelical 
Catholic worship that almost defies description (80). This reader noticed 
two things that might be called errors. Veal attributes widespread use 
of the pastoral prayer to Lutherans. Although once the case, this is not 
necessarily so any more. The offering of intercessions by a Deacon or 
Assisting Minister is much more common in our churches today. Then, 
on p. 83, he mistakenly indicates that among Lutherans, Reformation 
Sunday is observed on All Saints Day. 
This is a good, brief, readable, and comprehensive study that will 
be helpful to both lay and clergy. Many of our similarities are historical; 
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22
Book Reviews 163 
but just as many have come from the reforms of Vatican II and the 
liturgical movement, embraced by both our churches . This could well 
be used as a study book for lay or clergy groups seeking to understand 
one another's churches more fully. 
The second book, A Companion to the Waterloo Declaration, is a 
collection of essays gathered by Richard Leggett of the Vancouver School 
of Theology. In addition to the text of the Waterloo Declaration and a 
commentary on it by Roger Nostbakken, there are essays by Anglicans 
Legett himself, John Flynn, Alyson Barnett-Cowan, and Maylanne 
Maybee; and Lutherans Robert Kelly, Anne Keffer, and Richard Stetson. 
Nostbakken's contribution is simply an elaboration of the 
Declaration itself. One notices already here an emphasis on explaining 
episkooe for Lutherans. Kelly provides a brief sketch of Canadian 
Lutheranism. Unfortunately, he often confuses American Lutheran 
history with Canadian Lutheranism! Flynn's contribution is broader in 
scope: he reviews past Anglican-Lutheran dialogues in Canada. In an 
interesting contribution, he points out the "flaws" in the historic Anglican 
argument for episcopal succession (47). Barnett-Cowan reviews the 
agreement on full communion, commenting on the ambiguous uses of 
the term, and how it points toward eventual organic union . 
Stetson's essay has to do with Lutheran view of the episcopate. It 
is spotty, drawing mostly on African, European, and American material. 
This contribution could have benefitted from a look back in this journal 
at Volume 12, No. 1-2, where this issue was visited in great detail. 
Legett's article sets out well the ambiguity and compromise that both 
churches are accepting in embracing the Waterloo Declaration . 
Keffer and Maybee deal with the diaconate in their respective 
churches. Keffer outlines the history and prospects of the Lutheran 
Deaconess Movement. This is the most hard-hitting article in the book. 
She challenges the ELCIC to put up or shut up with respect to an ordained 
diaconate, and chides us for neglecting and sidelining the Deaconess 
Movement. Maybee's contribution will be the most confusing in the 
book for Lutherans. She appears to have a chip on her shoulder against 
the Anglican diaconate, but fails clearly to describe it. She provides an 
elegant personal theology for the diaconate; but this has nothing to do 
with any historic form of diakonia in the early church, and one suspects, 
with the current practise of diakonia in the Anglican Church either. 
The book concludes with three appendices, made up of official 
statements: Lambeth Conference Resolutions on Lutheran/Anglican 
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002
164 Consensus 
Relations; Anglican Consultative Council Resolutions on Anglican-
Lutheran Relations, and Lutheran World Federation Resolutions on 
Anglican-Lutheran Relations. 
This is a helpful commentary on the Waterloo Declaration. 
However, we would ask two questions: Do the essays assume too much 
knowledge of Lutherans by Anglicans, and vice-versa? Moreover, would 
more Canadian content, especially from the Lutherans, have been helpful? 
Donald C. Nevile 
Highwood Lutheran Church 
Calgary, Alberta 
Dynamics of Small Town Ministry 
Lawrence W. Farris 
Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 2000 
89 pages, $22.95 Softcover 
Can Our Church Live?: Redeveloping Congregations 
in Decline 
Alice Mann 
Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 
167 pages, $3 I .50 Softcover 
Letting Go: Transforming Congregations for Ministry 
Roy D. Phillips 
Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 
153 pages, $23.00 Softcover 
Cooperating Congregations 
Gilson A.C. Waldekoenig and William 0. Avery 
Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 
210 pages, $32.95 Softcover 
From January through August 2000, I undertook a particular 
sabbatical study with the Eastern Synod- Evangelical Lutheran Church 
in Canada- Georgian Bay Conference ELCIC pastors and congregations. 
This sabbatical study was designed to focus on learning from and with 
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22


A companion to the Waterloo Declaration

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 28Issue 1 Waterloo Lutheran Seminary Lutheran LifeLectures 1998-2001Article 225-1-2002A companion to the Waterloo DeclarationDonald C. NevileFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusPart of the Practical Theology CommonsThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationNevile, Donald C. (2002) "A companion to the Waterloo Declaration," Consensus: Vol. 28 : Iss. 1 , Article 22.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22Book Reviews 161 liturgical time, both in the sense of weekly liturgy and the liturgical calendar, seeing the time of worship as not so much cyclical as spiral. This is more and more rare today. On p. I 0 she uses a word unknown to this reviewer: intussusception. Is this an Anglican term, or a misprint? This aside, Wilson-Kastner, throughout her argument, connects liturgy with life in a coherent, realistic way, and picks her way carefully through the heresies of liturgy as totally unworldly versus liturgy as entirely culturally determined. It is eschatology, finally, which is the key to the "spirituality" of her title. This reviewer, who is sympathetic to the interpretation of liturgy as drama, found the book very helpful and useful. with lots of good ideas for preaching on eucharist. Unhappily, as the back cover reports, Patricia Wilson-Kastner died in 1998. Donald C. Nevile Highwood Lutheran Church Calgary, Alberta An Essential Unity: A Contemporary Look at Lutheran and Episcopal Liturgies David Veal Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse, 1998 90 pages, $13.95 Softcover A Companion to the Waterloo Declaration Richard Legett, Editor Toronto, ON: Anglican Book Centre, 1999 125 pages, $16.00 Softcover For all Lutherans who are interested in the upcoming agreement between the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada, here are two small but useful books. The first, by American Anglican Canon David Veal, provides a comparison between Lutheran and American Episcopal liturgies . He begins by defining some parameter : both churches are liturgical; liturgy is a corporate worship experience; and both churches are based on a common familiarity with the historic liturgical forms. He also points out some well-known differences: the fact that Anglicans Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002162 Consensus are bound to the Book of Common Prayer and its descendants, whereas Lutherans are bound to the Augsburg Confessions. Yet, he observes, we share belief in the nature and efficacy of the sacraments, and the catholicity of the church. He provides some American history of the two church bodies, of minor interest to Canadian readers. Then follows a detailed outline and commentary on the rites of Holy Communion of both churches. His study points out minor variations between the two liturgies, but observes that they are essentially the same rite. His source for information on the Lutheran liturgy is Pfatteicher's Manual on the Liturgy and the recently published ELCA document, The Use of the Means of Grace. In a helpful touch, the LBW mbrical numbers are used as a reference guide to both liturgies. He explains why and how the fraction and elevation have disappeared from both the Anglican and Lutheran eucharistic liturgies ( 49). He comments on how strange for most Anglicans is the Lutheran use of individual glasses, and how some Anglicans might be scandalized (as are some Lutherans!) by this (51). He reminds us that the benediction should be offered by the ranking clergy present (53). He conclude!> by observing that both Lutheran and Anglican eucharistic liturgies contain all the essentials outlined in the World Council of Churches 1992 Lima Liturgy. Veal goes on to compare the baptismal liturgies of the two churches. The forms, he observes, are identical, although the Episcopal liturgy is somewhat longer, with a five-petition renunciation of evil based on Jesus' temptation, and a five-fold promise by the baptized outlining the nature of the baptismal covenant. He also notices that, where the Lutheran rite simply discourages sprinkling, the Episcopal rite forbids it. There is a brief section on ceremonial: standing, kneeling, vestments, and so on. He astutely comments that this is a dimension of Evangelical Catholic worship that almost defies description (80). This reader noticed two things that might be called errors. Veal attributes widespread use of the pastoral prayer to Lutherans. Although once the case, this is not necessarily so any more. The offering of intercessions by a Deacon or Assisting Minister is much more common in our churches today. Then, on p. 83, he mistakenly indicates that among Lutherans, Reformation Sunday is observed on All Saints Day. This is a good, brief, readable, and comprehensive study that will be helpful to both lay and clergy. Many of our similarities are historical; http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22Book Reviews 163 but just as many have come from the reforms of Vatican II and the liturgical movement, embraced by both our churches . This could well be used as a study book for lay or clergy groups seeking to understand one another's churches more fully. The second book, A Companion to the Waterloo Declaration, is a collection of essays gathered by Richard Leggett of the Vancouver School of Theology. In addition to the text of the Waterloo Declaration and a commentary on it by Roger Nostbakken, there are essays by Anglicans Legett himself, John Flynn, Alyson Barnett-Cowan, and Maylanne Maybee; and Lutherans Robert Kelly, Anne Keffer, and Richard Stetson. Nostbakken's contribution is simply an elaboration of the Declaration itself. One notices already here an emphasis on explaining episkooe for Lutherans. Kelly provides a brief sketch of Canadian Lutheranism. Unfortunately, he often confuses American Lutheran history with Canadian Lutheranism! Flynn's contribution is broader in scope: he reviews past Anglican-Lutheran dialogues in Canada. In an interesting contribution, he points out the "flaws" in the historic Anglican argument for episcopal succession (47). Barnett-Cowan reviews the agreement on full communion, commenting on the ambiguous uses of the term, and how it points toward eventual organic union . Stetson's essay has to do with Lutheran view of the episcopate. It is spotty, drawing mostly on African, European, and American material. This contribution could have benefitted from a look back in this journal at Volume 12, No. 1-2, where this issue was visited in great detail. Legett's article sets out well the ambiguity and compromise that both churches are accepting in embracing the Waterloo Declaration . Keffer and Maybee deal with the diaconate in their respective churches. Keffer outlines the history and prospects of the Lutheran Deaconess Movement. This is the most hard-hitting article in the book. She challenges the ELCIC to put up or shut up with respect to an ordained diaconate, and chides us for neglecting and sidelining the Deaconess Movement. Maybee's contribution will be the most confusing in the book for Lutherans. She appears to have a chip on her shoulder against the Anglican diaconate, but fails clearly to describe it. She provides an elegant personal theology for the diaconate; but this has nothing to do with any historic form of diakonia in the early church, and one suspects, with the current practise of diakonia in the Anglican Church either. The book concludes with three appendices, made up of official statements: Lambeth Conference Resolutions on Lutheran/Anglican Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002164 Consensus Relations; Anglican Consultative Council Resolutions on Anglican-Lutheran Relations, and Lutheran World Federation Resolutions on Anglican-Lutheran Relations. This is a helpful commentary on the Waterloo Declaration. However, we would ask two questions: Do the essays assume too much knowledge of Lutherans by Anglicans, and vice-versa? Moreover, would more Canadian content, especially from the Lutherans, have been helpful? Donald C. Nevile Highwood Lutheran Church Calgary, Alberta Dynamics of Small Town Ministry Lawrence W. Farris Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 2000 89 pages, $22.95 Softcover Can Our Church Live?: Redeveloping Congregations in Decline Alice Mann Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 167 pages, $3 I .50 Softcover Letting Go: Transforming Congregations for Ministry Roy D. Phillips Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 153 pages, $23.00 Softcover Cooperating Congregations Gilson A.C. Waldekoenig and William 0. Avery Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999 210 pages, $32.95 Softcover From January through August 2000, I undertook a particular sabbatical study with the Eastern Synod- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada- Georgian Bay Conference ELCIC pastors and congregations. This sabbatical study was designed to focus on learning from and with http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss1/22

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1376&amp;context=consensus

A companion to the Waterloo Declaration

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