Assisting local ecumenism
Posted on 3/10/2005

Ecumenism can no longer be relegated to the domain of the church bureaucracy.

That’s the message coming from the Assembly’s Christian Unity Working Group, following the signing of Australian Churches Covenanting Together by the fifteen member churches of the National Council of Churches in July 2004

The document challenges all Uniting Church congregations to play an important role in creating a truly shared mission with other Christian churches.

At the same time, presbyteries and synods have been challenged to renew their ecumenical commitment, particularly through the sharing of prayers and mission oversight with partner churches.

While the Assembly’s Christian Unity Working Group has previously published ‘When Churches Join’, which provides models for various kinds of sharing at a congregational level, it will also be asking the 11th Assembly in Brisbane for encouragement and action to help local congregations live out the commitments made in the NCCA covenant signed last year.

Australian Churches Covenanting Together is a wide ranging document which registers the commitment of the NCCA member churches to praying and working together. It also registers the commitment of some of the member churches, including the UCA, to such things as resource sharing, common mission and ministry, common recognition of baptism and continuing work towards full eucharistic sharing and shared ordained ministries.

Christian Unity Working Group Secretary, Rev. Dr Sandy Yule said the 11th Assembly will be asked to commend the Covenant to congregations, presbyteries and synods and to offer guidance on how they can use it to enrich their local mission.

“While the specific nature of the Covenant varies between Churches, the overall message in it is a commitment to further exploration, conversation and sharing ecumenically.

“Although it was signed by leaders of 15 denominations it can’t just be interpreted at the national level.

“Within the one faith community – the body of Christ – we all have a wider responsibility to spread the word that God is totally committed to all humankind. At both a local and regional level, the UCA understands that ecumenical renewal is integral to the church’s mission.

“It’s up to the Assembly to join with synods and presbyteries in encouraging and supporting local congregations so they can engage with other Christian groups in their communities.”

While people have always felt free to relate personally to those in others denominations, the Working Group is concerned that in many places it has proven much harder for them to base co-operation upon long-term local commitment by congregations.

“I want to get this document on the table as a gate opener for people to take this issue more seriously. The covenant actually opens the door for local leaders to consider committing their Uniting Church congregation to discussions with a range of denominations.”

“It is only by finding the limits of what is permissible between Churches, that we can define what is possible for all of us.”

More information about the Christian Unity Working Group’s final recommendations will be made available to the Church on the Assembly website closer to the 11th Assembly.