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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
February 2002 |
UMC plus eight other denominations
move to unite, combat racism
Local churches urged to do joint mission, recognize common baptism
By M. Garlinda Burton
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UMNS) - After four decades of dialogue, leaders of The United Methodist Church and eight other churches - representing 22 million believers worldwide - joined hands Jan. 20, vowing to worship, witness and work together from this day forward as Churches Uniting in Christ.
The Churches Uniting in Christ also marked the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration with a public march and by signing a pledge on behalf of their churches to take the lead in fighting racism and white privilege in their communities, the nation and world.
After 40 years of conversation about how to unify across denominational lines, member churches of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) agreed to maintain their denominational identities and structure for now.
However, at their 19th Plenary in Memphis they declared their intent to move from just consultation to tangible acts of cooperation, and so disbanded as COCU and reconvened under the new name "Churches Uniting in Christ." Member churches include The United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; International Council of Community Churches; Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); and United Church of Christ.
For local churches, this means they will be encouraged to do joint mission, cooperate in new church development and recognize and observe common baptism and other worship celebrations. And local congregations of the participating groups, including United Methodists, may amend their church signs to reflect affiliation with the organization, such as "First United Methodist Church: member, Church Uniting in Christ."
Most important, say leaders of the nine member churches, local Christians will be challenged and encouraged to work together on what the uniting churches have called their No. 1 moral agenda item: wiping racism off the face of the earth.
Last updated on 01/14/2004