wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 2900

[umethnews-request@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2902 notes).

Note 2902 by SUSAN PEEK on April 24, 1996 at 13:04 Eastern (1772 characters).

TITLE:Pan-Methodist union approved
SEARCH:union, Pan Methodist, United Methodist, General Conference

040 {2904}                                          April 24, 1996

General Conference '96

Delegates approve
Pan-Methodist union

     DENVER (UMNS) -- The establishment of a commission to create
a plan of union for four Methodist denominations was
overwhelmingly approved here April 23 by the 1996 United Methodist
General Conference.

     Such a plan would merge the United Methodist, African
Methodist Episcopal (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ)
and Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) churches. Each
denomination will have six representatives on the commission.

     By a vote of 767 to 45, delegates agreed the plan of union
will be submitted to the next General Conference in 2000. It also
will be considered by the AME and AMEZ churches that year and at
the CME General Conference in 2002.

     The vote also acknowledged and repented the "racism that
separated American Methodism and fragmented ourselves and the
world." 

     The AME church was formed in the 18th century by black
Methodists who were turned away from having communion with whites.
The AME church later split, and the AMEZ church was formed. The
CME church was established by white southern Methodists after
slavery to keep blacks and whites in separate churches. 

     In 1994, the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation
authorized a study commission, which has requested the commitment
to reunion. The plan can help heal past wounds, offer good
stewardship of resources and provide "a more effective witness in
the global community," according to the proposal.
                              #  #  #
                                                    -- Linda Bloom
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