crazyheart
Full Communion Agreement
Posted on: 02/11/2014 11:56
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Discussion of Full Communion with United Church of Christ
10 February 2014
Representatives from The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ are meeting in Toronto this week to begin formal conversations toward a Full Communion Agreement.
The two denominations have long-established working relationships in North America and globally. They share many common global partnerships, have shared some overseas appointments, and have taken common actions on North American justice issues. National staff frequently connect, and there have been many interactions of the denominations across regional judicatories.
These working relationships, together with a shared ethos of progressive faith and deep commitments to social justice, have led to the beginning of formal conversations toward a Full Communion Agreement. Full Communion agreements usually involve mutual recognition of ministries and membership, as well as commitments to common mission.
While the United Church of Christ has Full Communion agreements with many other denominations, this is a new and historic undertaking for The United Church of Canada. The meetings begin this week in Toronto with six representatives from each denomination.
For more information:
Bruce Gregersen
Senior Adviser, Theology & Faith
The United Church of Canada
L’Église Unie du Canada
Tel: 416-231-5931 ext. 3025
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781
E-mail: Bruce Gregersen
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Comments
crazyheart
Posted on: 02/11/2014 11:58
Fill me in. I don't know anything about this, Is this like the union between the Anglicans and United Church?
revjohn
Posted on: 02/11/2014 12:26
Hi crazyheart,
Fill me in. I don't know anything about this, Is this like the union between the Anglicans and United Church?
No. It is not a union like we were aiming at in the early 70's. Essentially it would allow for a free flow of clergy from one denomination to the other.
The following is a definition of Full Communion taken from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Full communion is when two denominations develop a relationship based on a common confessing of the Christian faith and a mutual recognition of Baptism and sharing of the Lord’s Supper. This does not mean the two denominations merge; rather, in reaching agreements, denominations also respect differences. These denominations worship together, may exchange clergy and also share a commitment to evangelism, witness and service in the world. Each entity agrees that even with differences, there is nothing that is church-dividing.
Grace and peace to you.
John
Mendalla
Posted on: 02/11/2014 12:38
Makes perfect sense to me. The two United Churches are pretty close in a lot of regards and I suspect the UCC is where most UCCan people would end up if they moved to the US.
Mendalla
Rev. Steven Davis
Posted on: 02/11/2014 13:07
I would support a move toward some form of greater co-operation between the UCC and the UCCan. Here's my problem with the release. The sentence that begins "These working relationships, together with a shared ethos of progressive faith and deep commitments to social justice ..." The use of the word "progressive" as an adjective to faith now implies a very specific point on the theological spectrum when in fact both denominations are quite diverse. The word also isn't understood exactly the same way on the two sides of the border. For example, I have many friends who are UCC (US) clergy. Many of them call themselves "progressive." Yet they are also highly christocentric in their theology and I share their viewpoints on most things. In Canada, the "progressive" movement seems to me to be much less christocentric, and I can't find myself in any way sympathetic to the adjective. On either side of the border the word implies that if you're not progressive then you must be regressive. So I'm not sure that "progressive faith" is a helpful common denominator, and it could get a lot of backs up. I'd have been happier if the statement had said "These working relationships, together with a shared understanding of Christian faith and deep commitments to social justice ..." thus also getting rid of the weasel word "ethos" which is all the rage in the UCCan now and really means nothing.
carolla
Posted on: 02/11/2014 18:44
Good point Rev Stephen Davis. Language is such a loaded thing. I think the move toward mutual recognition is a good thing - glad to see this happening.