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Canada draw closer
Date: April 8, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

99a-24

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The Joint Commission of 
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 
Puerto Rico and in the United States and Canada, 
meeting in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, March 28 and 29, 
made several moves that extend cooperation 
between the two communions.  

	A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 
Puerto Rico proposal approved by the commission 
could result in the Puerto Rican church granting 
a form of recognition or standing to ordained 
ministers from the north.  The Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico presently 
does not grant automatic ministerial standing to 
ordained Disciples from the U.S. and Canada 
called to ministry in Puerto Rico. The measure 
approved by the joint commission would require a 
change in the church's constitution to allow 
routine recognition. The exact process for 
standing and what it would be called are yet to 
be worked out. Regions of the U.S. and Canada 
church routinely grant standing to Disciples 
ministers ordained in Puerto Rico. 

	The proposed process is a "good, responsible 
process ... it calls for persons who would obtain 
such recognition to appreciate the context of the 
church in Puerto Rico, the culture, and so 
forth," said U.S./Canada Disciples General 
Minister and President Richard L. Hamm.  In that 
respect, he said, it resembles the recognition of 
standing protocol between the Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ) and its ecumenical partners 
the United Church of Christ. The proposal now 
goes to deliberative bodies of both communions.  

	The Joint Commission also endorsed a formal 
policy regarding sponsorship of United States 
armed forces chaplains from Puerto Rico.  Because 
the armed services do not recognize the Disciples 
in Puerto Rico as a national church, Puerto Rican 
Disciples must be sponsored by the U.S./Canada 
church to serve as U.S. armed forces chaplains. 
The Division of Homeland Ministries has sponsored 
Puerto Rican chaplains for years. Now under a 
written policy,  DHM will continue sponsorship 
and will urge the U.S. armed forces to recognize 
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 
Puerto Rico as an independent communion. 

	In other business, the commission discussed 
racism, and endorsed a form to help Puerto Rican 
Disciples who move north become part of 
U.S./Canada Disciples congregations.  The 
commission also recommended exploring the 
appointment of one or more Puerto Rican Disciples 
missionaries with evangelism expertise to the 
U.S./Canada church. It's not clear yet whether 
they would serve in congregations, or in regional 
or general settings.  
	General Pastor Ramon G. Goveo of the Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico was 
absent from the commission meeting.  He is 
undergoing rehabilitative treatment for 
Guillain-Barre syndrome, an inflammation of the 
nervous system that affects muscle function.  He 
was hospitalized in mid-February.  Goveo, who is 
in the middle of a five-year term as general 
pastor, is expected to return to his ministry in 
several months.  The Rev. Estaban Gonzales, 
moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ) in Puerto Rico, is serving as acting 
general pastor. 

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