Explanation

The 76th General Convention directed the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to begin a dialogue with the appropriate ecumenical offices of the Church of Sweden, the ultimate goal of which is to reach a relationship of full communion between The Episcopal Church and the Church of Sweden (2009-A076). The 78th General Convention commended the Report on the Grounds for Future Relations Between the Church of Sweden and The Episcopal Church to all members of this Church (2015-B004). The Report on the Grounds for Future Relations Between the Church of Sweden and The Episcopal Church stated in its introduction that its […] proposal is not that a new ecumenical agreement on communion between these two churches be written, such as has been the case between a number of Lutheran and Anglican churches. Both the present churches are party to such agreements. Rather this document intends to show that there are historical and contemporary reasons for claiming that the two churches have in practice lived in fellowship with each other at various times, and therefore can be understood to do so today. This is a fact that we wish to acknowledge and celebrate, as the basis for closer cooperation where suitable in the future.