wfn.org | Two Methodist Denominations Latest to Adopt Cocu Covenant

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30-August-1996 
 
 
96312          Two Methodist Denominations Latest  
                      to Adopt Cocu Covenant 
 
                        by Joretta Purdue 
                  United Methodist News Service 
 
WASHINGTON--Two historically black denominations in the Methodist tradition 
became the seventh and eighth communions to approve the Church of Christ 
Uniting proposal of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) when they held 
their respective general conferences in July. 
 
     The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church General Conference voted 
for the proposal in Louisville, Ky., during the first week of July.  So did 
the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church in Washington during the 
last week of July and the first two days of August. 
 
     They join the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian 
Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, the International Council of Community 
Churches, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ and 
the United Methodist Church as COCU signatories. 
 
     Only the Episcopal Church has not approved the COCU plan, "Churches in 
Covenant Communion." 
 
     (Editor's note: This year's General Assembly of the PC(USA), after 
affirming the COCU covenanting proposals in 1993, sent a package of 
constitutional amendments designed to facilitate the denomination's 
participation in covenanting to the presbyteries for a vote during the 
coming year.) 
 
     The COCU plan is not one of merger but of recognizing the ministry of 
the other participants. Covenanting denominations -- COCU currently numbers 
nine participating churches -- will recognize each other's churches, 
baptism, and ordained ministry and celebrate the Eucharist together. 
Covenanting councils will be formed locally, but no structural or 
organizational union is called for. 
 
     At its General Conference in Denver this spring, the United Methodist 
Church became the sixth communion to approve the proposal.  The CME Church 
approved the proposal when it held its General Conference in 1994. 

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