Lutheran World Federation. U.S.A. National Committee. General Secretary (1967-72, 1974-75 : Empie)

The U.S. Lutheran - Roman Catholic Dialogues were initiated in 1965, largely at the call of National Lutheran Council (NLC) Executive Director Paul C. Empie, to discuss doctrinal differences which separated the two churches. Dialogue participants were officially appointed by the sponsoring bodies: the U.S.A National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (administered as the NLC Executive Committee, 1947-1966; as a separate body, 1966-76; and as Lutheran World Ministries, 1977-87) and the Roman Catholic Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Co-chaired by Empie and T. Austin Murphy, of the Roman Catholic.

Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, the group met twice a year. Although not a member of the USANC or Lutheran World Ministries, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod also participated in the Dialogues. During the Empie period (1965-79), the Dialogues produced statements and background papers on such issues as the eucharist, ordained ministry, and papal primacy and infallibility.