wfn.org | Assembly approves continued participation in COCU

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

06-July-1996 
 
GA96113 
 
    Assembly approves continued participation in COCU 
 
ALBUQUERQUE - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s continued participation in 
the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) received a boost Friday afternoon 
when the 208th General Assembly approved related constitutional amendments. 
 
    The Assembly committee on Catholicity's proposal regarding COCU was 
approved by a 421-to-103 vote without any changes. The amendments to the 
Book of Order now go to the PC(USA)'s 171 presbyteries for approval. 
 
    If a simple majority of the presbyteries approve the changes, they will 
come back to the 209th (1997) General Assembly, which would report the 
results. The changes would become operative when COCU inaugurates the 
Church of Christ Uniting. 
 
    Considering the controversy that surrounded COCU during the 1995 
General Assembly, this year's discussion and vote were surprisingly short 
and supportive. Last year's Assembly sent a set of proposed amendments back 
to the special committee on COCU for review and refinement. That 
committee's proposal was further modified by this Assembly's commissioner 
committee. 
 
    Among other things, the Assembly committee deleted the terms 
"representative bishops" and "representative elders." These positions were 
to be created to represent presbyteries in regional covenanting councils of 
COCU churches. Under the revised proposal, presbyteries would instead 
create commissions of equal numbers of elders and ministers to perform the 
same task. 
 
    While it remains unclear how other COCU denominations will react to the 
commission concept, the Assembly committee stated that its priority was to 
come up with a plan that fits Presbyterian polity and tradition. It was 
also pointed out during a question-and-answer session that in addition to 
bishops, the other denominations will be sending presbyters, deacons and 
lay persons to the councils. 
 
    It was also explained that the other COCU denominations will play no 
part in approving PC(USA) ministers for ordination. They will, however, be 
invited to participate in ordination services. 
 
    The Rev. Maria R. Price, a pastor from Northeast Georgia Presbytery, 
led the 51-member committee. The Rev. Michael Livingstone is chair of the 
special committee on COCU, which also represents the PC(USA) in the ongoing 
consultation with eight other denominations. 
 
John Sniffen 

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