Survey of Church Union negotiations 2003-2006.

Best, Thomas F.

Introduction

This edition of the venerable Church Union Survey (1) well illustrates the energy and diversity of today's united and uniting churches family worldwide. Finding inspiration from the 7th International Consultation of United and Uniting Churches in 2002; celebrating unions in The Netherlands and India in 2004, and in France in 2006; facing setbacks in Scotland; rejoicing in significant encounters among delegates and participants from united and uniting churches at the WCC's 9th Assembly in 2006--these few years have seen intense activity within and among the united and uniting churches.

The 7th International Consultation of United and Uniting Churches (2) identified unity, mission and identity (how refreshing to see identity as the last in that list of themes!) as focal points for reflection. Significantly, it sought to extend that reflection beyond the confines of the conference, and even of the united and uniting churches family itself: the consultation's Message addressed appeals for engagement not only to the united and uniting churches but also to their international mission partners, and to the Christian world communions. The Message is included with this Survey as Appendix III.

The Consultation was hosted at Driebergen, The Netherlands, by the union process Samen op Weg ("Together on the Way") and its member churches. Not long after the consultation, as reported in detail in this Survey, this long process culminated joyously in the formation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands--a union of special ecclesial significance, joining as it does churches of the Reformed and Lutheran traditions. This union seeks a maximum of integration consistent with careful honouring of the traditions, confessional formulations and, where necessary, structures of its member churches. The Communion of Churches in India brings together three churches, one of which has its own distinctive liturgical language and ethos; here the emphasis is, for now at least, on common confession, mission and other expressions of life rather than structural integration. In the recent union in Alsace-Lorraine, in France, the two member churches continue, but their lives and activities should be carried on through a common decision-making structure and a single body of pastors.

This variety of forms of union is consistent with the understanding of the classic term "organic union" introduced at the Second World Conference on Faith and Order at Edinburgh in 1937. Here "organic union" was understood as meaning not uniformity, but rather "the unity of a living organism, with the diversity characteristic of the members of a healthy body". (3) This suggests that "organic union" may be realized in a variety of ways, crucially of course that of the fusion, or full structural integration, of previously-divided churches to form a single new church. (4) Crucially--but not exclusively, for the Edinburgh definition would also encompass the recent unions in which the constituent churches remain as entities, but express their unity visibly through shared confession, life and action. In any case, the understanding of "union" and what constitutes union must be firmly on the agenda of the next consultation of united and uniting churches.

Several union activities and situations not reported, for one reason or another, in detail in this Survey must be mentioned here. The United Reformed Church--together with the union process Samen op Weg (leading to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands), one of the principal partners for the 7th International Consultation of United and Uniting Churches--preferred to wait for the next Survey before sending a report, citing the need to complete several review processes currently underway. These touch on the goals, relationships and resources of the church; new understandings of mission and church engagement in society today; and developing links with partner churches, including both possible union-discussion partners and broader ecumenical bodies which are themselves in a time of transition.

Several moves towards greater visible unity have occurred in Germany. On 26 February 2003 the Evangelische Kirche der Union (EKU, the Evangelical Church of the Union, the successor of the earliest of the modern united churches, dating from 1817) joined with the Arnoldshain Conference (a federation grouping other united churches within Germany) to create the Union of Evangelical Churches (UEK). The new body, which incorporates no fewer than 13 churches, was formed in order to seek "a renewed Protestant [Evangdische] Church in Germany", with the hope of increasing the "ecumenical perspective within Protestantism" [in the German and wider European context]. (1) January 2004 saw the fusion of the Evangdische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg with the Evangdische Kirche der schlesischen Oberlausitz to form the Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz. And discussions continue towards the fusion of the Pommersche Evangelische Kirche and the Mecklenburgische Landeskirche.

"Non-theological" factors--which have, in fact, inescapable theological significance--shape many current efforts at church union. Discussions continue among four churches of the Dutch Reformed tradition in South Africa, with the crucial issue centring on recognition of the Belhar Confession (understood by many as a "litmus test" for the explicit rejection of racism). We hope to have a more complete account of these discussions (and, God willing, a report on positive progress) in the next edition of this Survey.

Explicit theological and ecclesiological issues continue, of course, to play a significant role in many union discussions. Within the context of actual moves towards union (however understood) rather than simple cooperation or common programming, these theological and ecclesiological issues have inescapable non-theological dimensions. They take on an existential significance, often becoming the focal point for impassioned concern about the identity and very survival of cherished institutions and values. Of these issues the most visible is the question of episcopal structures (the office of bishop), as inevitably arises whenever a union process includes an Anglican or Episcopal church. At least three union processes (the CUC in South Africa, CYTUN in Wales, CUIC in the United States) are currently grappling with this issue; and the most dramatic setback of the period, the disillusion of the SCIFU process in Scotland, occurred over precisely this issue.

The vitality of the church union scene was also well attested at the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February, 2006. Concerned delegates and other Assembly participants gathered on two occasions for reflection on issues central to the faith and life of the united and uniting churches. (5) The meetings showed well the great diversity among the united and uniting churches family, not least in the actual experience of union. But the churches were one in their desire to remain together, to deepen their theological self-understanding and their lived experience of union, and to continue to learn from one another even as they do so. They were also united in their desire for a further international consultation of united and uniting churches ! An offer has been received for hosting the consultation, and the Continuation Committee from the Driebergen gathering in 2002 was charged with planning and carrying out the event.

It remains only to thank the various authors of the reports gathered here. Their accounts, which are organized by region and, within that, by country, are what make possible this sharing of experience and reflection among the united churches, and church union processes, today. As always, contact information is provided for each union correspondent and readers are encouraged to take up contact directly should they have any questions or concerns to raise.

In response to requests for more general information about the united and uniting churches, we have included four appendices which give an overview of this ecclesial family, a list of united and uniting churches (comments to which are invited), as well as the full Message and an information release from the most recent, 7th International Consultation of united and uniting churches. For other information about the united and uniting churches, and Faith and Order work with this family of churches, please contact Tom Best at the addresses given below.

(1) The surveys have appeared in the present format since the mid-1960s, and in other formats from the 1930s(!), making this one of Faith and Order's most enduring commitments and engagements. Surveys appearing over the past twenty years have included 1983-85/86 (Faith and Order Paper No. 133, reprinted from The Ecumenical Review, Oct. 1986), 1986-1988 (No. 146, ER, April 1989), 1988-91 (No. 154, ER, Jan. 1992), 1992-1994 (No. 169, ER, Jan. 1995), 1994-1996 (No. 176, ER, April 1997), 1996-1999 (No. 186, ER, January 2000), 1999-2002 (No. 192, ER, July 2002).

(2) See "With a Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power": Seventh International Consultation of United and Uniting Churches, ed. by Thomas E Best, Faith and Order Paper No. 195, Geneva, WCC Publications, 2004.

(3) The Second World Conference on Faith and Order: Edinburgh 1937, ed. by Leonard Hodgson New York, MacMillan, 1938, p. 252.

(4) Is the new church formed in a church union, actually "new"? And if so, in what sense--since it bears and takes forward within itself the ecclesial life of the two or more churches which have formed it?

(5) On behalf of the united and uniting churches I am happy to thank Philip Woods of the United Reformed Church, and Lydia Veliko of the United Church of Christ, for their leadership in the two meetings and careful recording of the discussion and results.

Thomas F. Best and Church Union Correspondents

Correspondent: Rev. Dr Tom Best, Faith and Order, World Council of Churches, 150, rte de Ferneg, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, telephone + 41 22 791 6335, fax + 41 22 710 2452 and + 41 22 791 6470, email tfb@wcc-coe.org, website: http://www.wcc-coe.org/ or http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/index-e.html.