EcumenicalLink

Presbyterian ecumenists

Formula of Agreement churches partner in a new church development

Camino de Vida new church development in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a coming reality after more than a decade of conversation between Presbyterians and Lutherans about starting a new immigrant ministry. The catalyst was PC(USA) minister Guillermo Yela (pictured), himself an immigrant from Guatemala and a new seminary graduate. Jim Hytjan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Rocky Mountain Synod said that in light of funding challenges, “I suspect that neither the Lutherans nor the Presbyterians could have done this alone. But together, we’re going to make this work.” See a video about the project.

New book honors PC(USA) stated clerk emeritus

Clifton Kirkpatrick (pictured, near right) has been honored with a festschrift prepared in his honor on the occasion of the establishment of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). Kirkpatrick, stated clerk emeritus of the PC(USA), presided over the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) during the period when WCRC was being formed by the coming together of WARC and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). His entire professional career, begun in local Texas ecumenical organizations, has been marked by keen attention to mission and unity. The festschrift in Kirkpatrick's honor, titled That They May All Be One: Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches (ISBN #9780664235727), was edited by Neal Presa (pictured, far right), the chair of the steering committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches' Caribbean and North America Council (CANAAC). Contributors include persons who have played key roles over a span of years in WARC, in both the National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches, and in the PC(USA).

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) bilateral relationships

International dialogues

The PC(USA) understands itself to be in international dialogues through the World Council of Churches and, especially, through the Reformed conversations carried on by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Lutheran-Reformed agreementx

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a full communion agreement with the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America commonly identified as the Formula of Agreement. As a recent paper, "The Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" from the PC(USA) theology and worship office, says, the agreement "sets off ways in which [our] walls can become porous without dissolving the boundaries that distinguish the four denomination." (page 2)

Episcopal-PC(USA) agreement

An agreement that includes eucharistic hospitality was adopted by Presbyterians, through the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries, and by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009. See an Episcopal overview. More dialogue concerning ministry, oversight, elders is needed. See the PC(USA)-prepared frequently asked questions written before the agreement was approved.

Bilateral results

Additionally, the results of more bilateral dialogue are beginning to bear fruit. (Note that all bilateral ecumenical agreements require adoption by both churches before they can become determinative in the relationship.):

• Korean Presbyterian-PC(USA)

With the Korean Presbyterian Church in America—A covenant relationship was adopted by the PC(USA), through the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries. See frequently asked questions.

• Moravian-PC(USA)

With the Moravian Church—A covenant relationship was adopted by Presbyterians through the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries. See the "An Invitation to the Table" document. See also the PC(USA)'s frequently asked questions and a Moravian briefing sheet.

• Cumberland-PC(USA)

With the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America—Strengthened relationships culminated in concurrent General Assemblies in 2006.

• Catholic-Reformed: an agreement not mutually agreed

A Catholic-Reformed dialogue has included the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church in Christ in addition to the PC(USA). Reports are available on the Catholic-Reformed dialogue in the U.S., 2003-2007, and on the dialogue on baptism. This dialogue continues to meet. Growing out of the dialogue, the formal mutual recognition of baptisms was approved by Presbyterians at the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries, but it was not approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2009.

A new bilateral

• Seventh-day Adventist-PC(USA)
The newest bilateral dialogue formally approved by a PC(USA) General Assembly is with the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). Conversations began in 2006. After three rounds, the two found more than enough common ground to continue talks and, in 2010, the PC(USA)'s 219th GA authorized participation in a dialogue to begin in the fall of 2010 and to extend over a four-year period.

Churches in correspondence

The PC(USA) understands a category of relationships known as "churches in correspondence." See the list of these churches. See the PC(USA) Ecumenical Relations web pages for more information.

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Ecumenical & Interfaith News Network - PCUSA

Ecumenical & Interfaith
News Network - PCUSA