Resolution: Assyrians

Memorial regarding dialog with the Assyrian Church of the East submitted by Philip Van Dam / Peter Suwak

Whereas the ELCA has had dialog with many of the older churches; and

Whereas the Assyrian Church of the East is in dialog with some of our dialog partners; and

Whereas our current status with the Assyrian Church of the East is mutual intercommunion, where members of each are free to commune in the churches of the other, which is greater fellowship than with any of the other ancient churches, and

Whereas the chief objection to dialog with the Assyrians is that they do not call Mary Theotokos (Mother of God) when some of our full communion partners also do not call Mary Theotokos, and

Whereas there are a large number of Assyrians in this country, be it therefore

Resolved that the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod in assembly memorialize the 2022 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA to instruct our presiding bishop to enter into dialog with the Assyrians.