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Survey of Church Union Negotiations 1996-1999

Ecumenical Review, The, Jan, 2000 by Thomas F. Best

Introduction

A renewed church union scene

This edition of the church union survey(1) appears at a time of renewed vigour and imagination within the family of united and uniting churches. This was evident in the two Padare presentations held on the united and uniting churches at the WCC's eighth assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe, in December 1998. Panels and the discussion reviewed union activities around the world, bringing evidence of fresh activity -- and some surprises. The determination of the churches present to manifest their unity more fully, in the traditional form of structural integration of existing church bodies or in other ways, was evident and ardent, as a series of developments particularly in 1999 reveals.

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From the Philippines comes news of links forged on 28 November 1999 between the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente -- churches of greatly diverse origins and polities, who have committed themselves to a common "space" of witness and reflection within which to work on the matters which still divide them.

From India come significant and dramatic developments among the three churches represented in the Joint Council, a long-standing union process among the Churches of North and South India and the Mar Thoma Church. For those with ears to hear this had been prophesied at the Padare sessions in Harare, where representatives of the three churches stated publicly: we reflect a new generation in our churches and their leadership, and bring with us a new determination to take action in our search for unity. Then in July 1999 the Joint Council called on its member churches to take the unprecedented step of bringing their highest executive bodies together in order, if the vision and will were there, to identify decisive, visible steps forward in common worship, witness and mission.

After years of part-time and volunteer staff serving the union process, the three churches have full-time staff to direct and organize their union activities. These are not aimed at structural integration of the three churches but at creating a far more active, and visible, expression of the full communion which already exists among them. The message and resolutions from the combined meeting of the churches' executive committees, which took place at Charal Mount in Kerala, 11-13 November 1999, are printed in full in this survey.(2)

The meeting had combined worship, Bible study and theological reflection with a strong emphasis on the churches' witness in the world, and these themes are reflected in the resolutions issued at Charal Mount. These suggest concrete actions of common worship and shared congregational life, common witness, and work for justice for Dalits and other oppressed groups. The churches commit themselves to redevelopment work on behalf of those devastated by the recent cyclone in the state of Orissa. And they address the current national situation in India, balancing a vigorous defence of the constitutional guarantee of the right "to profess, practise and propagate the religion of one's choice" with a firm rejection of proselytism, and a warning against the danger of the growing communalism which threatens to fragment the nation into hostile ethnic, economic, cultural and religious groups. There are global implications as well; each of the churches has extensive ecumenical links abroad, and the WCC and the family of united and uniting churches were represented by Faith and Order staff at Charal Mount.

Once the decisions made at Charal Mount have been "received" and affirmed by the churches, the union process in India should enter a new phase. Other churches, in particular the Methodist Church in India and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, are possible further partners in the process.

From South Africa comes news of the structural union, celebrated in Port Elizabeth on 26 September 1999, of two Presbyterian churches to form the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Following two days in their respective final general assemblies in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the churches united in a festive eucharistic liturgy. In a brilliant sermon Russel Botman noted that the uniting event did not mean that the churches were suddenly, automatically one -- that work, at times hard work, remains ahead as the congregations, pastors and church administrations from these distinct traditions and cultures learn what unity means in practice.(3)

There were no substantial theological and doctrinal differences between the two uniting churches. But union is about far more than those things, as important as they are; it has also to do with common life, with fellowship and right relations. Unity does not mean that justice and reconciliation are already achieved; unity establishes the space within which the formerly-divided churches can -- no, must, for they are now members of one ecclesial body and fully members one of another -- work towards justice and reconciliation.

Survey of Church Union Negotiations 1996-1999

Ecumenical Review, The, Jan, 2000 by Thomas F. Best

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