Churches Uniting in Christ director named

Christian Century, May 8, 2002

A United Church of Christ minister in Cleveland with expertise in interchurch relations has been appointed as the first director of Churches Uniting in Christ, a new umbrella agency for nine mainline denominations inaugurated in January.

The appointment of Bertrice Y. Wood marks the first step in formulating the new cooperative effort that has succeeded more than 40 years of discussion by the Consultation on Church Union. Wood was the first woman pastor of Cleveland's 137-year-old predominantly African-American Mount Zion Congregational United Church of Christ.

"I am excited that the communions of CUIC have made bold commitments to work toward not only cooperative programs, but toward mutual recognition and reconciliation of their ministries, and to overcoming racism, which divides the churches and our communities," said Wood, who is also a vice president at large of the National Council of Churches.