WORK OF THE COMMITTEE:
While Christian unity is modeled and promoted through all of the Council's work, the Christian Unity Committee is the one entity whose primary responsibility is to further Christian unity or wholeness. This includes bringing people together across lines of denomination to realize that we are more alike than different and that we can be enriched by many of our differences.
FAITH AND ORDER: Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral Dialogues on Christian Unity
compiled by Rollin Russell, chair, Christian Unity Committee, 2007
A remarkable theological and ecclesiological convergence is taking place among Christian denominations in North America, and the results to date, taken together, are remarkable as well. The following summary is not exhaustive. To learn more, check denominational web sites or those for the various agreements which have been completed or are in progress. (To report additional dialogues and/or agreements, send e-mail to nccofc@nccouncilofchurches.org.)
CHURCHES UNITING IN CHRIST is the successor to the Consultation on Church Union and includes nine partner churches and two “Partners in Mission and Dialogue.” The partner church bodies are:
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church, USA
International Council of Community Churches
Presbyterian Church, USA
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church
Participating as a Partner in Mission and DialogueL:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
CALLED TO COMMON MISSION is an agreement between the Episcopal Church, USA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America whereby these two bodies are now in Full Communion, including interchangeability of ordained clergy.
COVENANT PARTNERSHIP is an agreement between the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in which the ordained ministers of each church are designated as Ordained Ministerial Partners of the other with full interchangeability as a part of their Full Communion.
FORMULA OF AGREEMENT is a relationship between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church, USA, the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ. It is an agreement of Full Communion with interchangeability of Ordained Ministers.
INTERIM EUCHARISTIC SHARING is an agreement between the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which moves those two denominations toward Full Communion.
EPISCOPAL/UNITED METHODIST DIALOGUE is a process in which those two denominations are engaging in the same sort of discussions which could lead to their Full Communion.
EPISCOPAL/MORAVIAN DIALOGUE has been ongoing since about 1999. It had its beginning in the NC Council’s Christian Unity Committee in an exchange between Tom Rightmyer and Bill McElveen. It began in NC in 1994 and then escalated into a national dialogue. It is well along and full communion will probably come to these national bodies in 2009 and 2010.
In addition to all these commendable steps toward visible unity within the churches of the United States, several are involved in international efforts at Faith and Order Ecumenism:
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, through its Global Methodist affiliation, has recently affirmed the ROMAN CATHOLIC/LUTHERAN agreement on Justification by Grace through Faith, thus clearing the way for further unity by those international communions.
LARC, the Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic tri-lateral discussion on unity is ongoing.
DISCIPLES/ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE has continued over several decades.
CONTACTS:
Rev. Rollin Russell, Staff
nccofc@nccouncilofchurches.org
MEETINGS:
Every third month, usually in Graham, NC
RESOURCES:
Units in Acts of Faith: Resources for Prophetic Worship (worship aids, scripture commentary, prayers, litanies, hymn suggestions, and issue-based statistics and facts).
"One Spirit, Many Gifts" Christian Ecumenism
"I Must Bring Them Also: Building Interfaith Connections"
"There Is One Body and One Spirit: Ecumenism & Christian Unity"
"We Are Ambassadors For Christ: Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dialogue & Service"
Homily delivered at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Raleigh, on January 18, 2008, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Models of Local
Ecumenism
Prayers from "Hope For Middle East Peace" Community Prayer Day
"A Reflection on the Churches' Doctrine of Humanity"
2008 Ecumenical Prayer Calendar
"John Paul II and the Quest for Chrisitan Unity" by Fr. Vincent Cushing
"A Response to Fr. Cushing's Remarks on John Paul II and the Quest for Christian Unity" by Rev. Paul Stallsworth
