A UNITED & UNITING CHURCH Ecumenism and the shaping of the UCC

The Four Streams & the distinctive Gifts they each bring Congregationalists: Christ’s message of unity, wholeness and grace was flawed by churches in conflict Comity agreements – “segregation agreements” attempts by mission boards of denominations to get along as new churches were started. Christian: born as a witness to anti-sectarianism: “unity our polar star” Centrality and openness of the table “No creeds but Christ” Reformed: Immigrant Church; chose not to give up language, “liturgical sensibilities” Mercersburg Theologians – wanted to bridge gaps broken in Reformation; wanted to re- connect with Roman Church; not go back to Catholicism but to re- connect Evangelical: lived with understanding of self as a BRIDGE church. Common heritage that binds us together – all come from the same place.

Why Ecumenism? Scriptural Mandate John 17 – “…that they may all be one.” Ephesians 4 – “one body and one spirit, …one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…” A basic understanding of ecumenism is “one baptism” Paul’s Epistles: – Christian unity, inclusivity, acceptance of diversity cornerstones of the theology of Paul.

What has Happened since the Merger of 1957? The vision not complete: How realistic is this? Institutions may never fully unite, but we can recognize that we can unite our efforts Form follows function ex: Global missions now linked (UCC/Disciples) 1957 was a BOLD move: Frightening to some Unrealistic to others Ex: what would German speaking reformed congregation in the Midwest have in common with Congregational church in New Hampshire We have become far more diverse than we were in 1957 UCC is now characterized by its diversity! Today, the UCC has welcomed into its fellowship congregations of a variety of ethnic and ecclesiastical backgrounds, ranging from Pentecostal to Baptists, Asian, Caribbean, Pacific Islander, Korean, in a diversity that the founders could barely imagine.

Federated Churches Federated Churches – (300 in the US – represents about 5% of the UCC) Mainly in the upper Midwest Congregations that have merged across denominational lines When you joined that congregation you chose which denomination you are joining. Made very conscious decisions about how to integrate – trying not to elevate one polity over the other

Union & Immigrant Churches Union Churches: Are similar to Federated churches but you don’t join a particular denomination, just that congregation Immigration: has pushed the edges – we have learned the language of adaption Ex: American Samoan Congregations want to connect with UCC Many churches see “UCC” as a “best fit” – but in many instances have very little in common! WE HAVE FOUND WAYS TO BE DIVERSE! – not always sure how... AT OUR BEST…diversity is a gift, not a hindrance Diversity is a GIVEN (because of Scriptural mandate) Inclusivity is GIFT to both GIVE and RECEIVE

Alliance of Baptists About 120 Congregations Have found kinship with UCC (often around social justice issues) 1. Taught us how to be faithful in the midst of crisis 2. Taught us how to be repentant of our history & heritage 3. Now… Disciples are getting involved; becoming a 3 way partnership 4. Bap – disciples: commonality of polity and anti-establishment 5. Bap – UCC: commonality of social justice and inclusivity issues

Challenges we face as Denomination 1. Not there yet! No matter how inclusive we may seem, we all have our ‘groups’ who we would not enter into relationship with Therefore it’s important that we don’t break our arms patting ourselves on our back! 2. Inter-Religious Relationships Biggest problem is that we haven’t articulated a theology that encourages us to enter into those relationships or conversations We have the impulse to do things but aren’t able to say WHY! 3. Questions of Human Sexuality are pushing us SO HARD! Tempting at times to say Christian Unity is not as important as saying “I’m Right” It is important to state what you believe is NEVER faithful to say, therefore, we won’t have conversations with others who disagree with us!