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VOTES
TO CLEAR WAY FOR HISTORIC STEP TOWARD CHURCH UNITY AND RACIAL
RECONCILIATION
New
relationship challenges color barrier and
moves toward full communion.
KANSAS
CITY, MO-July 16, 2001-Consecutive votes by the United Church of
Christ (UCC) and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on July 16, 2001 are
expected
to clear the way for one of the most significant steps toward
church
unity in United States history. The votes will take place in Kansas
City
when both denominations gather to hold their biennial meetings.
Both
the UCC and Disciples will vote on a proposal to enter into a new
relationship
with seven other denominations. That new partnership, Churches
Uniting
In Christ (CUIC), will be inaugurated January 20, 2002 in Memphis.
It
is both an outgrowth of and successor to the Consultation on Church
Union
(COCU),
an ecumenical organization that has worked for more than 40 years to
promote
unity among denominations. COCU will formally end its existence in a
service
planned for January 19 in Memphis.
"We
have nothing to lose but our separateness," said The Reverend Dr.
Michael Kinnamon, professor at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis and
general
secretary of COCU. "We have lived for too long with denominations
acting
like competing corporations. In a world that's divided by race,
economic
status and ideology, the church is called to live a different way.
CUIC
is a most significant step in that direction."
The
other churches that have previously approved CUIC membership include:
1.
African Methodist Episcopal Church
2.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
3.
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
4.
Episcopal Church
5.
International Council of Community Churches
6.
Presbyterian Church (USA)
7.
United Methodist Church
Together
with the UCC and Disciples, the nine churches have approximately 22
million
members. These churches have also been members of COCU for most or
all
of its 40-year history.
Churches
Uniting in Christ is not a new structure; it is an officially
recognized
invitation to live with one another differently. Churches in the
CUIC
framework retain their historic identities and make their own
decisions.
But they also pledge before God to draw closer in ways of
worship,
ministry and mission, particularly in the mission of combating
racism
together. In addition, each church commits itself to take part in
intensive
dialogue toward the day when their ministers are authorized to
serve
and lead worship in the other communions.
Among
the elements affirmed by CUIC member churches:
-
Recognizing each other as true churches
-
Publicly acknowledging that the baptism practiced in each of the
churches
is valid and thus,
-
Recognizing that members of each are members of Christ's one
church
-
Committing to celebrate the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion,
Eucharist)
together regularly
-
Engaging in mission together, locally and nationally
-
Combating racism both within the church and the wider society
CUIC
churches have committed themselves to what may be the most significant
Christian
anti-racism effort in our society's history. The member-churches
have
described racism as one of the most prominent and pervasive evils in
our
national heritage and cultural routines. The members have outlined
strategic
commitments to be implemented together.
"Racism
is a church-dividing, faith-denying and community-destroying reality
that
must be eradicated," said The Right Reverend McKinley Young,
presiding
bishop
for the 10th District African Methodist Episcopal Church and vice
president
of COCU. "It is an evil practice among individuals, churches and
nations.
Racism is a sin and without repentance it is unto death. CUIC
provides
a unique opportunity for the ecumenical community to embrace with
enthusiasm
and excitement a new future, devoid of the baggage of racism,
where
we exercise mutual respect and equal regard."
Much
of the impact of CUIC will be visible at the local church level, where
congregations
are being urged to consider such changes as celebrating
communion
together periodically, sharing baptism, ordinations and
installations,
undertaking joint mission projects, sharing special events
and
proclaiming their CUIC membership on their church signs. As various
communities
become models of CUIC partnership, their experiences will be
shared
to encourage and inspire others.
The
upcoming discussion and vote on the CUIC proposal will take place when
the
UCC holds its General Synod jointly with the Disciples General Assembly.
The
two bodies will hear the proposals together and will share discussion on
the
issue. Each body will then vote separately in the others' presence. If
the
measures pass, Dr. Kinnamon will briefly address both groups the
following
morning to discuss the future of CUIC.
"This
new relationship offers us new possibilities, not new
requirements,"
said
Dr. Kinnamon. "To be honest, it will take patience and imagination.
But
with
the help of the Holy Spirit, with work and creativity, we can live our
way
into a different future."
CUIC's
future includes a commitment by CUIC member-churches to work toward
full
reconciliation of ministries by 2007. Difficult issues of ordination
and
ministry structure have been bracketed in the current proposal for
intensive
discussion after CUIC's January inauguration. Several additional
churches
have expressed interest in joining this round of conversation, and
leaders
of at least four additional denominations have expressed interest in
becoming
"partners in dialogue and mission"-if not full participants in
CUIC.
###
Editor's note:
The following background materials are available:
For more information or to arrange an interview
with Dr. Kinnamon, please contact Lois Ford Long, director of media
relations at Eden Theological Seminary, at 314.918.2568 (office),
314.210.0464 (mobile) or cuic@ucc.org
.
Dr. Kinnamon is the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission and
Peace at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Additional
information and background on COCU can be found at www.cocu.org . Information about General Synod/Assembly in Kansas City can be found
at http://synodassembly.net/index.html
.
For
additional information on the United Church of Christ, contact
216.736.2173 or visit www.ucc.org ; for additional information on the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) contact 317.713.2494 or visit www.disciples.org.
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