UCC Committee deliberates Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism

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

UCC Committee deliberates Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism

> Written by Diane Weible
> July 3, 2011

The committee considering the recommendation to
approve the ?Common Agreement on Mutual
Recognition of Baptism? began deliberations
Sunday with a statement by General Minister and
President the Rev. Geoffrey Black.

?We are bringing it to you with the hope and
recommendation that you will approve it,? said Black.

The committee was specifically asked to approve
eight points of agreement as outlined in the
82-page document, ?These Living Waters.?

Ecumenical Officer Karen Georgia Thompson

emphasized that this agreement is not just a
bilateral, but multi-lateral agreement that
includes the Reformed Church tradition partners.
In these times of blended families who live
across many different Christian traditions, the
agreement offers common language and a consensus
that ?as an ecumenical community, we can own this baptism,? she said.

Thompson also emphasized that the agreement is
not binding. Pastors are not required to follow
it in performing baptisms but are encouraged to
use the opportunity for discussion with families
as to the language that will be used and the
implications of using that language. It also
opens the door for expansive language.  To be
recognized, the wording must include the words
?Father, Son and Holy Spirit.? But, pastors are
not limited to that wording as demonstrated in
the ?Riverside Formula,? used at Riverside Church
in New York, which adds ?One God, Mother and Father of us all.?

Elizabeth Clement, a member of the Executive
Council, spoke for many on the committee when she
said she sees the agreement as an effort to
narrow the meaning for a very diverse community to understand.

?That is the point where expansiveness begins,?
she said. ?For a community that respects others
enough, it is a way of narrowing language to a point where everyone can beg in.?

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

"There were some rather tough moments" in the
agreement?s formation, said 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.

"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,"
said 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."

George Peters, a delegate from Rhode Island, said
this agreement gives him a glimmer of hope.

?I?ve waited 40 years for the Roman Catholic
Church to recognize the church I love as being
valid,? he said. ?I don?t think I will live long
enough to share in the Eucharist but I hope my granddaughter will.?

Although the majority of the committee was in
favor of recommending that the document be
approved, there was opposition. Two people spoke
out against it, stating concern that the
committee was being asked to ?bend? when other
traditions were not equally willing to make concessions.

?How come they can?t come to the table chopping
off some of the stuff they have held for
centuries so we can meet somewhere along the
riverbank,? said Harlette Washington, a delegate from the Illinois Confer ence.

She acknowledged that everyone wants baptism to
be respected but that she hopes, if approved, there won?t be problems lat er.

In the end, the committee voted overwhelmingly in
favor of recommending that the statement be
affirmed and the resolution adopted. A separate
recommendation will be brought before General
Synod asking that educational materials be
developed to help pastors, churches, and those
being baptized understand the agreement.

A summary statement detailing the objections of
the two people who voted against the
recommendation will be included with the committee report.