wfn.org | Presbyterians Vote on COCU

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (174
notes).

Note 171 by UMNS on June 20, 1997 at 15:47 Eastern (3829 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
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CONTACT:  Linda Bloom                             359(10-71B){171}
          New York (212) 870-3803                    June 20, 1997

Presbyterians vote
to continue in COCU

by Nelson Price*

     SYRACUSE, N.Y. (UMNS) -- Commissioners of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) meeting in their 209th General Assembly here,
turned back a move to withdraw from the Consultation on Church
Union (COCU) and voted overwhelmingly to "stay at the table."
     The General Assembly meets annually and has 570
commissioners, half clergy and half lay, who are elected by 172
presbyteries. There are four advisory categories of delegates who
have voice but no vote: youth (172), theological students (26),
overseas delegates (8) and ecumenical delegates (15). Advisory
delegates vote on each action as "advice" to the commissioners for
their voting.
     The minority report calling for withdrawal would have allowed
membership to continue "in order to meet for the last time with
the 18th Plenary meeting" of COCU scheduled for January 1998. It
recommended continued dialogue with the COCU member churches on an
individual basis for "racial reconciliation, mutual reconciliation
of ministries, regular celebration of the sacrament of the Lord's
supper and engagement together in Christ's mission to the world."
     Proponents of the minority report characterized COCU as
moving too slowly and wanting to move beyond the COCU dialogues.
The minority report was supported by 39 percent of the
commissioners and opposed by 60 percent.
     The majority report, brought by the Committee on Ecumenical
Relations, to remain a part of the Consultation, was approved by a
margin of 72 percent (387 commissioners) to 27 percent (145
commissioners. Sixteen commissioners abstained.
     Moderator of the Ecumenical Relations Committee is Elder
Helena Lee of the Coastal Carolina Presbytery; vice moderator is
the Rev. Robert Hines of the Shenango Presbytery in western
Pennsylvania.
     United Methodist Bishop William Boyd Grove, an advisory
delegate, voiced the hope that "you will stay with us at the table
while we work out the details."
     The committee report outlined the "details" that have been
troubling to the Presbyterians.  A clear majority of presbyteries
had rejected proposals from the 1996 General Assembly.
     The office of "bishop" was troubling to many along with
additional "structures" at a time the denomination is downsizing.
There were those who felt that the Presbyterian office of ruling
elder was not sufficiently appreciated by the other churches. Some
preferred a "koinonia model" to demonstrate unity. There was an
expression for inclusion of the "more evangelical churches in  the
quest for unity."
     Dorothy Barnard, former moderator and 15 year veteran of the
Consultation on Church Union, spoke for the committee prior to the
vote.  She reminded the Assembly that "ecumenical work takes time.
Many councils  of the past have taken hundreds of years -- this
has taken 37 years. The vision is to make the church visible -- to
show the world that we are one."
     "How can we lead -- how can we negotiate," she asked, "if we
are not at the table?"
     In taking the action, the Assembly reaffirmed "its commitment
to work through the Consultation on Church Union toward racial
reconciliation, mutual reconciliation of ministries, regular
celebration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper and engagement
together in Christ's mission to the world."
                              #  #  #

     * Price is retired president and chief executive officer of
the Odyssey cable television network now living in Syracuse, N.Y.

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