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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN

3. Pitfalls and other Unexpected Difficulties
- Matters for consideration regarding Congregational Members

Discover together the evangelical imperative which you share in your witness and service to the local community. There will be a greater emphasis on and interest in the local community because congregations wish to concentrate on their local mission and life. A suggested focus could be: 'How do we engage together in mission?'

Explore together the Faith that we share, at the same time developing a deeper understanding about the identity and traditions of your own church and about your partner church. With regard to the Uniting Church this will include its origins, its Basis of Union, its ecumenical commitment and its understanding of mission and ministry. Distinguish the basics of the faith from the liturgical expressions which have their origins in the developing tradition of the Church. Special teaching sessions may be required to inform members of the respective church traditions.

Individual members of co-operating congregations must know to which church they belong. Separate baptismal rolls should be kept, and confirmations should be conducted by the appropriate authority in each church. This is important for young people leaving home and moving to larger centres. Nevertheless, in one co-operative partnership which has been in operation for some time, there is a move towards having only one list of members which would not identify persons according to denomination.

Members of either church in the co-operative partnership must not feel that any proposal is a threat to their identity as a member of one or other of the denominations involved in the discussions, e.g. the vision of a 'united congregation' may be more than they bargained for. They must not feel 'under siege'.

Provision for and appointment of eldership or parish assistants in co-operating parishes can be provided for by agreement, but the functions of any council or committee remain a matter for the Church Council to determine.