wfn.org | Griswold joins church leaders in welcoming Churches Uniting in Christ

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2002-008

Griswold joins church leaders in welcoming Churches Uniting in Christ

by James Solheim

     (ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined the top elected 
leaders of eight other churches in welcoming a new milestone on the 
search for Christian unity. After 40 years of dialogue in the 
Consultation on Church Unity (COCU), the churches will form a new 
relationship called Churches Uniting in Christ CUIC) during the Week of 
Prayer for Christian Unity in January.  As "the first step in this 
journey toward unity," the church leaders issued an appeal to work "to 
overcome both the sin of disunity, including the sin of racism."

     Besides the Episcopal Church, CUIC includes the African Methodist 
Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the 
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Methodist Episcopal 
Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, the 
United Methodist Church and the International Council of Community 
Churches.

     In a covering letter to bishops of the Episcopal Church, Bishop 
Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, said 
that "one of the reasons we have been so supportive of COCU over the 
years has been the participation of the historic black churches in the 
conversation." Epting urged wide distribution of the appeal among 
congregations, encouraging them to study and sign the document as "one 
more way to 'incarnate the vision' of racial justice in our land.'"

     The appeal offered a vision of God's Beloved Community where "all 
people and their particular gifts are included, respected and valued; a 
community that seeks alternatives to violence to settle its differences," 
as well as a community "committed to eradicating racism and making no 
peace with oppression."

     "It is fitting, therefore, that this Appeal calls us to begin our 
new life as Churches United Christ on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2002."

     The Appeal said that, "emboldened by this vision," the churches 
would "seek to demolish the institutional barriers which keep us from 
being a united Christian community that is truly catholic, truly 
reformed, and truly evangelical." It added, "We believe that God is 
calling us to this vision and to this task, and we know there is a balm 
in Gilead that heals the sin-sick soul."

     In another example of symbolism, the Inaugural Celebration for CUIC 
will be held January 18-21, in Memphis, Tennessee, where King was 
murdered. COCU will hold a final plenary session and the Inaugural Worship
Service for CUIC will be held on January 20.

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.