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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN

3. Pitfalls and other Unexpected Difficulties
- Matters for consideration regarding Worship and the Sacraments

Worship and pray together no matter what form the co-operative venture may take.

Each tradition must be clearly and regularly represented in forms of worship. It has been found to be beneficial to have alternating services/liturgies, each being an authentic example of one tradition even if the congregation is a mixture of traditions. To this end, at the outset clergy and other key people must be specially educated in the worship practices of the churches involved and trained to celebrate the Eucharist as the people of each church in the partnership would expect. These aspects of liturgical training have not always been given adequate attention at the beginning of a co-operative partnership.

In places where the Eucharist at every service has not been expected in the past, there is no 'adaptability problem' to a changed pattern of worship services.

It is useful to remember that the Anglican and Uniting Churches have adopted a common statement on Baptism and share, with the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox churches, a common Baptismal certificate.