wfn.org | Ministry, diversity mark partnership agenda

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

October 7, 1996

Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Cliff_Willis.parti@ecunet.org

United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
Contact: Hans Holznagel
Holenagh@ucc.org

96b-84     
     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The continuing relationship
between the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the
United Church of Christ finds the denominations planning for
a special observance in 1997. The churches' chief decision-making bodies will
formally reconcile their orders of
ministry at special ceremonies during their biennial
meetings. 

     The reconciliation event is another milestone in the
unique ecumenical partnership shared by the Disciples and
the Cleveland, Ohio-based United Church. The partnership
dates back to 1989 when the Disciples General Assembly and
the UCC General Synod declared the churches to be in "full
communion."

     Simply stated, the reconciliation of ordained ministers
declares that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and
the United Church of Christ recognize each others' clergy as
genuine (authentic) ministers. In its detail the
reconciliation sets out mutual policies that would authorize
Disciples clergy, when invited, to serve in UCC
congregations and vice versa.

     Helping to plan the "liturgy of reconciliation" at the
Disciples and United Church biennial gatherings will be
members of the Ecumenical Partnership Committee. Lay and
clergy members from both churches comprise the group, which
meets twice annually.

                         - more -add 1-1-1/ecumenical partnership
Disciples News Service
96b-84

     The reconciling ministries issue was but one of the
agenda items discussed when the committee met here Sept. 26-28. In addition to
other partnership-related business, the
group began a discussion on diversity, racism and the
inclusive church. The talks are intended to move the
denominations toward becoming "more inclusive, multi-racial,
multi-cultural communities of faith." 

     The dialogue began with presentations by
representatives from racial ethnic caucuses in both
denominations. Billye Bridges and the Rev. Luis Ferrer,
represented African American, American Asian and Hispanic
Disciples. The UCC presenters were the Revs. Bernice Powell
Jackson, Ron Bonner and Felix Carrion.

     Carrion, a staff member of the UCC Commission for
Racial Justice and Office of Church in Society, explained
the 1993 General Synod resolution calling for the Cleveland-based church to be
"multi-cultural and multi-racial." 

     With ethnic minorities comprising only 7 percent of
both churches' membership, calling either multi-cultural or
multi-racial is a "stretch," said Disciples Moderator Janet
A. Long, Elyria, Ohio.

     While the terms may seem misleading, they do affirm the
presence and gifts of racial ethnic persons in both
churches, according to Jackson, CRJ executive director. And
for her, acknowledging the diversity present within the
Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ is about
more than mere political wrangling -- it is a matter of
faith. 

     "It's not about being politically correct," she said.
"It's about us being faithfully correct. There's no other
reason for us to be here."

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