Survey of Church Union Negotiations 1996-1999

Ecumenical Review, The, Jan, 2000 by Thomas F. Best

Conclusion

The above developments, along with many others of significance around the world, are treated in detail in the correspondents' reports which follow. The correspondents have made this survey possible; we extend to each one sincere thanks on behalf of the family of united and uniting churches around the world. And we record here the churches' thanks to Rev. Martin Cressey who, as convenor of Faith and Order's work with united and uniting churches through 1998, kept their calling before them, and kept them before the ecumenical movement as a whole.

For various reasons it has not proved possible to provide accounts from every church union process, for example that in Wales (with its important discussion towards an office of "ecumenical bishop"), and that among historic black churches of the Wesleyan tradition in the United States. We have given only a capsule summary of the challenging situation within the Dutch Reformed family of churches in Southern Africa; we are grateful to those ready to supply information and regret that it has not proved feasible to offer a more detailed account. On these and other fronts we hope to bring full reports in the next edition of the survey.

Let us close with the words with which the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa ended its existence and moved forward to its new life in a united church:

   ... We now respond to God's unchanging call to his people ... We prepare
   ourselves afresh to declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called us
   out of darkness into his marvellous light.

      This church therefore surrenders itself to him, identifies itself with
   him in his death, that it may be raised to walk henceforth with him in
   the newness of life he offers. We have yet to make this fully our own.

Yes. But we are underway.

NOTES

(1) The survey of church union activities, presented in this form since the mid-1960s and pursued in other formats for several years before that, is one of Faith and Order's most enduring projects. The most recent surveys have been those of 1981-83 (Faith and Order Paper no. 122, reprinted from The Ecumenical Review, Oct. 1984), 1983-85/86 (no. 133, ER, Oct. 1986), 1986-88 (no. 146, ER, April 1989), 1988-91 (no. 154, ER, Jan. 1992), 1992-94 (no. 169, ER, Jan. 1995), 1994-96 (no. 176, ER, April 1997).

(2) The plenary presentations, Bible studies and other materials from the consultation will be published by the Joint Council/Communion of Churches in India in due course.

(3) This sermon and other materials from the union event will be published in due course in the magazine of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

(4) For background to the COCU Plenary see the special issue of Mid-Stream, vol. 37, nos 3-4, July-Oct. 1998; the report and text on racism from the plenary have been published in The Ecumenical Review, vol. 51, no. 1, Jan. 1999, pp.114-23.

AOTEAROA-NEW ZEALAND

FORUM OF COOPERATIVE VENTURES in partnership with the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia, the Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand, the Congregational Union of New Zealand, the Methodist Church of New Zealand/Te Hahi Weteriana O Aotearoa and the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand