UCC, Disciples ecumenical councils discuss COCU, 2001 gathering

 — Apr. 12, 200012 avril 2000

ST. LOUIS (DNS) — A first-time meeting here of ecumenical bodies from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ discussed their communions’ roles in a new church union proposal and the 2001 gathering of their plenary bodies.

Board members of the Disciples Council on Christian Unity and the United Church of Christ Council for Ecumenism met April 6-8. While other Disciples and UCC administrative units share overseas ministries or otherwise work together, this is the first joint meeting of the Council on Christian Unity and Council for Ecumenism.

It no longer felt right not to be meeting together as partners, said the Rev. Robert K. Welsh of the initial meeting of the CCU board and the UCC Council for Ecumenism. Welsh is president of the Disciples’ Council on Christian Unity.

“We want to begin to do as much together as we can,” echoed the Rev. Randi Walker, Berkeley, Calif., chairperson of the UCC Council for Ecumenism.

Both denominations are members of the Consultation on Church Union which, upon approval by the nine member communions, will be succeeded by a new entity — Churches Uniting in Christ.

With the advent of this new relationship, the churches have finally decided to stop consulting and to act, said the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, Lexington, Ky., COCU general secretary. “This is a commitment to live together as church in a new way,” said the Disciples ecumenist. The new relationship among the churches is set to begin in 2002.

The Disciples CCU and the United Church CFE discussed the possibility of a joint resolution endorsing the new unity proposal. The Disciples General Assembly and the UCC General Synod will meet jointly in 2001 in Kansas City. Board and council members also discussed ideas for celebrating the Churches Uniting in Christ proposal liturgically during the ‘01 common gathering.

In addition, the agenda included a report on learnings from the process that formed the UCC and Disciples Common Global Ministries Board, and discussions on interfaith dialogue, a possible resolution backing the COCU initiative to combat racism, and support of the World Council of Churches‘ decade-long emphasis on overcoming violence.

The Disciples of Christ and the Cleveland-based United Church of Christ have been “ecumenical partners” since 1989, mutually recognizing members, ministers and overseas mission.

Posted: Apr. 12, 2000 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4877
Categories: News Transmis : 12 avril 2000 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4877
Catégorie : News