wfn.org | Committee Recommends Approval of "Churches Uniting in Christ"

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99057 
23-June-1999 
 
                Committee Recommends Approval of  
                   "Churches Uniting in Christ" 
 
 
FORT WORTH--The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will become part of "Churches 
Uniting in Christ," if the Assembly adopts the recommendation of its 
Committee on Catholicity and Ecumenical Partnership. 
     By a vote of 36 yes, 11 no, and one abstention, the Committee voted to 
recommend that the denomination enter into a new relationship with "as many 
other member churches [of the Consultation on Church Union] as may agree." 
This relationship is called "Churches Uniting in Christ."  It will be 
inaugurated January 18-25, 2002, during the Week of Prayer for Christian 
Unity. 
     The Committee commented that this new relationship "requires no polity 
changes."  If adopted by the Assembly, it will be sent to the presbyteries 
[regional governing bodies] for their vote.  This procedure is spelled out 
in the denomination's form of government, Book of Order, G-15.0302. 
     The relationship will be characterized by nine "visible marks."  They 
are: 
   *  recognizing each other as "authentic expressions of the one church of 
Jesus Christ;" 
   *  recognizing "members in one Baptism," that is, members moving from one 
   *  communion to another will not be rebaptized; 
   *  recognizing one another's ordained ministry; 
   *  affirming that each holds "the apostolic faith of Scripture and 
Tradition which is expressed in the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds;" 
   *  providing for celebrating the Eucharist together "with intentional 
regularity;" 
   *  engaging in mission together, "especially a shared mission to combat 
racism;" 
   *  promoting "unity with wholeness" and opposing "all marginalization 
and exclusion in church and society based on such things as race, age, 
gender, forms of disability, sexual orientation, and class;" 
   *  engaging in an ongoing process of theological dialogue; and 
   *  creating "appropriate structures of accountability and appropriate 
means for consultation and decision making." 
     There may be a minority report to the Assembly on this issue. 
     The Committee is also recommending that the Assembly adopt 
"Presbyterian Principles for Interfaith Dialogue."  These principles are to 
guide discussions between Presbyterian congregations and groups, and other 
religions, such as Jews, Hindus, Moslems, and Buddhists. 
     The Committee is further recommending that the Assembly create a 
General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations.  If this action is 
taken, the Special Committee on the Consultation on Church Union will be 
dismissed, and all actions related to "Churches Uniting in Christ" will be 
handled by the new Committee on Ecumenical Relations. 
 
Peggy Rounseville 

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