The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sent theologians and scholars to a joint seminar called the 13th National Ecumenical Dialogue.

The meeting occurred in Baltimore at St. Mary's Seminary & University last month.

“It is a privilege to be a part of the 13th round of this ELCA/USCCB dialogue with such a talented group of scholars who appreciate, in such a profound way, why we are meeting and demonstrate the joy of working, praying and living together as one,” Bishop Denis Madden said, according to the USCCB website.

Madden is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and he cochaired the event as a USCCB representative.

His counterpart form the ELCA was Bishop Patricia Lull of the St. Paul Area Synod (Minnesota).

The ELCA sent other representatives, among them Rev. Dr. Katherine Shaner, Rev. Dr. Joy Schroeder and Rev. Dr. Justin Nickel. The USCCB sent Dr. Peter Casarella, Sister Susan Wood, Dr. Shawn Colberg and Father David Monaco and others.

The session covered an array of topics that both sides discussed. Two of the key topics were the relationship between the ordained ministry and the priesthood of the baptized, and the role of "synodality," or collaboration among bishops in the discernment of right teaching. Other subject matters touched on  the "sacramentality" of ordination and the distinction between bishops and presbyters, particularly the function of collegiality in establishing an office, and the framing of bishops' roles according to the tripartite biblical typology of prophet, priest and king (or shepherd).