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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN

2. Starting Out - Initiating the Process

(This section outlines the processes, consultations and permission seeking that follow the initial decision to cooperate.)

Initiating the Processes towards a Co-operative Partnership

An absolute prerequisite is local initiative. The local people must first begin to explore possibilities with vision, prayer and imagination and have a genuine desire to work together. So TALK, TALK, TALK together!! Open the lines of communication within your own congregation, with the other congregation and with God. Conversations together will be an exciting, volatile and emotional time; they may be frank, angry, and confronting; but from them will arise the new thing God is going to do. Isaiah 43:19

So, what is it that is drawing your congregations together?
- Money - or the lack of it
- Friendship
- Christ's prayer that "they may be one"
- To best meet the needs of people in your community
- Commitment to joint action for mission
- Or ....?

Underlying all negotiations must be an attitude of inventiveness and goodwill and a solid base of denominational self-understanding and loyalty if there is to be effective co-operation. The special local constitution/agreement resulting from negotiations provides a framework for legal authority but much less is specified than is usual in church regulations. This allows for some freedom to explore what will work best, but it needs to be recognised that in undefined areas people from different traditions will often have quite strongly differing expectations of what is the normal way of doing something. Open discussion is important, as is advice from wider church representatives, e.g. the Presbytery Minister or Bishop who may be able to resolve problems in the light of experience elsewhere.

Local negotiation processes almost inevitably run into a mismatch of denominational structures! So it is necessary to accept the differences in the ways approvals are obtained and decisions are made, distinguishing the basics of the Faith from the ecclesiastical processes. Pray for holy patience....initial problems can often be overcome. (There are also times for holy impatience!) However it will take sensitive leadership to smooth out minor irritations and if insecurity and suspicion surface the whole project can soon be derailed.

At the same time as you are developing the local initiative, contact the Presbytery (or appropriate body/person in other traditions), giving information about what you are doing and the direction of your discussions. If there is any negativity towards proposals it is best to know early! Presbytery will help establish the approvals needed in U.C.A. Councils and the Synod Office will have resources for your assistance. Contact, and learn from, those schemes similar to the style of co-operation contemplated. (Crawford)

A clearly written comprehensive agreement, declaration of intent or constitution - especially regarding sacraments, authority and financial/property arrangements - is essential. Thoroughness in initial preparation will smooth the way ahead by eliminating potential areas of friction.

All implications need to be thought through adequately by both sides.

It is crucial that both partner churches are of the one mind. Each local project or community needs to question and work out what 'acting together' would mean for them in all those matters where it is possible. Beware that one side does not have a vision that is 'racing ahead' of the other partner's vision. As the vision of new possibilities develops over time, make sure the other partner is kept aware of these to avoid stumbling blocks and the accusation of 'secret agendas'.

Issues which must be addressed include:
• membership, members-in-association, baptism, confirmation
• recognition and development of elders, parish assistants
• agreements on ways of celebrating the Eucharist
• procedures for the appointment of ministers, and termination
• understandings on the discipline of ministers and others
• rights of access to the parish by officers of the Presbytery/Diocese etc. etc.
• separate or common purse
• separate or joint councils within the parish/congregation and other issues relating to local organisation
• membership of and attendance at regional and other councils
• complexities of arrangements when there are more than two partners
• special issues when churches with a tradition of local autonomy are involved
• relations with the wider church (this has given rise to some difficulties)
• difficulties arising when small third parties participate in discussions; their ability to exercise proper authority (e.g. at the level equivalent to Presbytery)

Difficulties encountered in the process will provide the agenda to be worked on.

Other Points to Bear in Mind:

Each partner church is obliged to safeguard those matters of faith and order which it regards as essential for its faithful witness. Early consultation will ensure none of these is overlooked. There will be differing doctrinal positions between partner churches in co-operation over a number of issues, for example baptism in the U.C.A. and Baptist churches. Congregations must have mutual respect for each other's traditions and members must be encouraged to follow their own convictions confident that they hold much more in common.

There should be great clarity on roles and authority in the congregation. Several denominations have different views on the role and authority of the Priest/Minister of the Word. This, together with the way in which pastoral care and sacraments will be provided, must be settled from the beginning. Similarly, the corporate decision making, e.g. church council, congregational meeting, and their relationship to the Priest/Minister, should be defined.

When issues regarding worship emerge within a co-operating partnership that require attention, it usually indicates that matters relating to worship have not been adequately addressed at the beginning. This is an inherent danger because most collaborative agreements focus on service, mission and pastoral care.

Decision making by consensus rather than by majority vote is recommended; by relationship-building, rather than procedural finesse. People and churches relax if they know they will be listened to and their sensitivities respected. Trust is built. Mechanical questions like how many delegates a church should have do not matter so much once you lose interest in counting votes.

A Covenant requires a constant, solid commitment. Within the one faith community - the Body of Christ - there must be mutual responsibility and solidarity with one another for the fulfilment of this commitment. Yet, a covenant is a deal, not a contract. It can be broken, and what do you do then? Is an 'escape clause' (say of three months) a good thing to build into an ecumenical agreement? On the other hand, does such a clause offer the invitation to people not to give themselves to the venture as a 'life and death' issue?

The main reasons that co-operative partnerships have experienced difficulties and/or broken down are:
- lack of communication, lack of care and ecumenical courtesies
- inadequate consultation from both sides during the formative period
- an inadequate process of discussion and mutual growth in understanding leading up to the establishment of the co-operative partnership
- inadequate attention to aspects of liturgical training at the outset
- lack of a 'sponsoring body': a properly constituted oversight body with representation of both denominations involved at the Presbytery/Synod level and equivalents in other denominations
- an unequal commitment to and understanding of Christian Unity
- appointment of a minister with contrary views

The Initiating Processes in Summary:

Any Congregation or Other Ministry of the church which wishes to take an initiative to co-operate with another church or receives an approach from another church shall:

(a) Assure the other church of the genuine intention of the U.C.A. to consider such a proposal; and begin to engage with them in discussion of the proposal;

(b) Advise the Presbytery, in the case of a Congregation, and the Synod in the case of an Other Ministry, immediately such a proposal emerges;

(c) Seek the advice and assistance of the appropriate committee within the Synod, and/or the Christian Unity Working Group of the Assembly, to ensure that wisdom and expertise derived from past and present experience can contribute to the proposal;

(d) Explore the proposal sensitively until a suitable resolution is reached and has the support of the appropriate committees within the Presbytery and Synod

Any agreement to co-operate with another Church shall be adequately documented and approved by the Standing Committee of the Synod.

Documentation of Arrangements:

To facilitate progress from one stage to another, the following steps may be taken:

(a) A Declaration of Intent
This is a formal and solemn declaration in which congregations pledge themselves to serve God together. This declaration is registered with denominational authorities

(b) A Shared Congregation
This involves sharing worship, pastoral care, education and mission and may include finances. A written constitution is required for this arrangement.

(c) A Shared Ministry
This is an agreement about the provision of an ordained person to serve as minister for co-operating but separate congregations and/or Shared Congregation and requires an approved written agreement.

(d) A Shared Building
This may involve separate or shared congregation/s and requires a legal agreement. (S.A. Synod Standing C'tee)