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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN - 5. Covenants and Agreements

Report to Riverina Presbytery - Ecumenical Survey by the Rural Ministry Committee

The information below has been collected from congregations in the Riverina Presbytery. It shows the level of ecumenical co-operation being experienced throughout the Presbytery. We are brrateful for the people who have supplied this information, and for those who have checked its accuracy.

The Rural Ministry Committee collected the information believing that ecumenical ministry is vital in our current situation in the bush. To present a united presence to the community in which we live is important for the church. Denominational emphases seem to have little importance to the non-churchgoer. The R.M.C. also believes that the future for many struggling congregations lies in ecumenical contracts ofvarious kinds.

To those congregations who want to engage in further ecumenical ventures, and that is the majority of the respondents, we would make the following recommendations:

A. Kids clubs seem to be successful as ecumenical ventures and are recommended. KUCA clubs are good, but their name, being denominationally specific, is a drawback. Calling a Kids Club some denominationally non-specific name is recommended. The use of material from Children for Christ, C.E.P., or Tammy Tolman is recommended as not slated towards any denomination and therefore ecumenically acceptable.

B. Worship on an ecumenical basis requires liturgies that are not denominationally slanted. Suitable liturgies are those used for the World Day of Prayer, etc. Some contract between denominations to use either non-denominational liturgies, or to use liturgies acceptable to other denominations is commended. Perhaps Presbytery might invite its own liturgical people to prepare apt liturgies for suitable occasions, or ask Ecumenical bodies to do it for us.

C. It seems that Ecumenical Councils with effective lay participation are more successful than Ministers' Fraternals in promoting ecumenical events. Not all clergy are in favour of replacing a Fraternal with a Lay council, and an Ecumenical Council may need to be considered as an alternative. This is a generalisation of course but it is worth remarking upon.

D. There is a wide variety of ecumenical events attempted by many congregations in the Presbytery. They are listed in the summary below as a guide for congregations and/or ecumenical councils to try. If you want to try something on the list, please contact the congregation shown as trying it!

E. One of the most common reasons for not doing more ecumenically is the lack of time. It is true that those who have successful ventures have a person or small group who give ecumenism significant priority. It is recommended that some person(s) be given special responsibility for promotion of ecumenism, if the congregation really believes this is important.