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Updates From The President

Update On Christian Unity - March, 2008

Dear Friends of Christian Unity,

"A season of ecumenical meetings!... wherever Christians join hands for common witness in God's name on behalf of others - Disciples are there!"

These words were written by Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of our church, as she reflected upon her experience of participating in a series of ecumenical meetings since the beginning of the New Year (see copy of her pastoral letter to the church, "Ecumenical Witness: Disciples At Their Best"). She was also aware of other significant ecumenical gatherings that took place, where she was not present, which involved other Disciples in key leadership positions. The litany of those events and meetings is impressive:

• Christian Churches Together in the US (January 8-11) where Dick Hamm, our former General Minister and President, now serves as Executive Administrator (see news release on this meeting at http://www.disciples.org/ccu/news/2008/0801.CCTSecondAnnualMeeting.html )
• The Plenary of Churches Uniting in Christ (January 11-14) where Suzanne Webb, pastor of Union Avenue Christian Church in St. Louis, served as President, and Patrice Rosner serves as Director of CUIC (see report on this Plenary at http://www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=12805 )
• The meeting of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (February 12-20) where Sharon Watkins serves as the Disciples representative to that 120-member governing body and Robyn Fickes, a seminary student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, participated as a steward (see news story at http://www.disciplesworld.com/newsArticle.html?wsnID=13045 )
• The Governing Board of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (February 25-26) where Michael Kinnamon now serves as General Secretary (see http://www.ncccusa.org/news/newshome.html )

It certainly has been a season of ecumenical meetings. But more than that! As Sharon pointed out in her recent pastoral letter, these meetings and involvements represent the heart and soul of who we are as a church and a people of faith and faithfulness: "It's been an ecumenical season! But, then for Disciples, it's always an ecumenical season... May God bless us in this witness! To God be the glory!"

With best wishes, and deep gratitude for the exciting opportunities I am privileged to have in my ministry as president of the Council on Christian Unity,

Robert