UCC Synod delegates to deliberate ecumenical baptism agreement

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Synod delegates to deliberate ecumenical baptism agreement

> Written by Jeff Woodard
> June 22, 2011

Culminating seven years of ecumenical dialog,
delegates to the UCC's 28th General Synod in
Tampa, Fla., will deliberate and potentially vote
on a proposal recommending the
"<http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gs28/Resolution-on-Common-Agreement- 
on-Mutual-Recognition-of-Baptism.pdf>Common
Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism."

Forged between the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), the United Church of Christ,
Presbyterian Church-USA, Reformed Church in
America and Christian Reformed Church ? the
agreement is being hailed as a "milestone on the
ecumenical journey," says Archbishop Wilton
Gregory of Atlanta, chairman of the USCCB
Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

The USCCB voted 204-11 last fall to approve the
agreement. The Presbyterian Church-USA has also
ratified the agreement. The Reformed Church in
America and the Christian Reformed Church are
scheduled to consider the agreement at their
respective national gatherings this summer. UCC
ecumenical partner, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, has a long-standing common baptism agreement with the US CCB.

"Together with our Reformed brothers and sisters,
we Catholic bishops can affirm baptism as the
basis of the real, even if incomplete, unity we
share in Christ," says Gregory. "Our conference
looks forward to seeing all four of the
authoritative bodies of the Reformed communities
approve the common agreement as we have today."

"It was quite the journey ? seven years," says
the Rev. Sidney F. Fowler, Interim Senior
Minister of Westmoreland Congregational UCC in
Bethesda, Md. "I think it offers an opportunity
for an amazing conversation among UCC folks who
have deep ecumenical commitments."

"There were some rather tough moments," says
Fowler, who has worked for the national settings
of both the UCC in worship and spiritual
formation, and has extensive experience
developing lectionary-based and international ecumenical resources.
The two primary roadblocks to the agreement
centered on language used during the baptismal
rite and the manner in which water is used.

"At a moment of significant impasse, Geoffrey
brought fresh eyes and asked crucial questions
that helped the process move forward so all
parties could sign off on the common agreement,"
says Kimberly Whitney, UCC minister for community
life and assistant to the UCC's five-member
Collegium. "Our general minister and president
looks forward to charging us as a denomination
toward continued groundbreaking and visionary
connections ? both interfaith and ecumenical ? that are ahead of us."

Research found that nearly 20 percent of UCC
churches were using alternative language for "the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" for
baptismal formula, says Fowler. "Catholics don't
recognize baptism other than 'in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.' "

Gregory says the agreement, after approval by the
four Reformed denominations, will "allow Catholic
ministers to presume that baptisms performed in
these communities are 'true baptism' as
understood in Catholic doctrine and law."

"The presentation of a baptismal certificate by
Reformed Christians who wish to come into full
communion with the Catholic Church, or to marry a
Catholic, assures Catholic ministers that the
baptism performed by a Reformed minister involved
the use of flowing water and the biblical
invocation of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit," says Gregory.

The agreement also encourages local Christian
communities to keep baptismal records, a practice
already held in the Catholic Church.

Recommending a "patient and prudent" approach to
changes that will accomplish the goals of the
agreement, the document acknowledges some
communions may not opt for immediate
implementation. "We recognize that the journey
towards full, visible unity depends on openness
to the grace of God and humility before the
initiatives of God's Spirit among us, which are
themselves based on Baptism," the agreement
reads. "Let us above all work to promote the
works of charity and service not only to those
who are of the household of the faith, but also
to all people and to all of creation."