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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN

Appendix F: Australian Churches Covenanting Together Locally

(Statement from the National Council of Churches in 2000)

In many localities, the relationship of churches to one another is marked by obvious co-operation. This co-operation is an essential stage in the relationship between churches of different traditions. It has been expressed in the formation of local inter-church councils and by working together in a variety of activities in terms of both worship and mission.

But on the journey to Christian unity, the stage of co-operation is only a passing one. What is the next stage? What more is possible? How can the churches together become a more visible sign of unity-in-diversity within their own communities? What would be possible if the churches were to go to the limits of what is permissible?

However, what can and does happen locally will always be shaped, at least in part, by the wider context. Two current features of the wider context are particularly pertinent!

Covenanting in Australia

In Australia, the formation of the National Council of Churches in 1994 was an expression of the churches covenanting together, seeking to draw, for their own life, some of the consequences of the degree of communion that already exists between them.

Now, the churches are engaged in a process intended to lead to a covenanting together at the national level. This intention to enter into a specific Covenant is another act of commitment to one another as a further stage on the way to visible unity.

The nature of the proposed Covenant is multi-dimensional. This is because it is recognised that the possibilities for further co-operation and commitment between the churches are many and varied:

• only one or two of the suggested dimensions may be possible for an agreement between two particular churches, whereas all of the dimensions may be possible for another two churches, and some other combinations of the various dimensions will be possible for other churches;

• some of the suggested dimensions (e.g. Shared Ordained Ministries) may be possible for only two or three of the churches, whereas other dimensions (e.g. Shared Use of Buildings) may be possible for almost all of the churches.

In other words, the nature of the covenant/agreement into which a church will enter with each of the other churches will have different dimensions that express the extent of the co-operation, even commitment, that is possible between them at this stage of the ecumenical journey.

The purpose of the proposal is to invite the churches to take specific steps towards the more visible unity, to move towards a deeper experience of Communion (koinonia).

Covenanting together at the national level will give an important lead; it will be 'permission-giving'! The nature of the agreement between any two churches nationally will open possibilities, provide guidelines, and give encouragement to their congregations to covenant together locally.

While this process is happening nationally, similar possibilities can be explored locally!

Grounded in the conviction that ecumenical renewal is integral to the Church's mission, the challenge of this covenanting process is to explore, and to be open to, 'what is possible if we go to the limits of what is permissible'.

In developing this invitation to the churches, the intention is to stimulate significant and practical initiatives by which the churches can move with greater confidence and determination into their ecumenical future.

Everything the churches do needs to be guided by the chief principle of ecumenism:

NEVER DO ALONE WHAT COULD BE DONE TOGETHER! (ACCTL)