Dear Friends of Christian Unity,
I am pleased to share with you three significant resources related to Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) that mark a new day in this relationship among ten denominations here in the United States that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and to combat racism together:
(1) A recent "CUIC Newsletter" reporting on the work, program and developments of CUIC over the past six months -- highlighted by the official action of CUIC's Coordinating Council in welcoming the Moravian Church, Northern Province as the tenth CUIC member communion. This update is found on CUIC's webpage at http://www.cuicinfo.org/cuic_notes_pdf/cuic_notes_dec_06.pdf
(2) A letter issued by all "heads of communion" of CUIC member churches on the 21st anniversary celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the fifth anniversary of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) urging "our congregations to join with other CUIC congregations in your community to discern ways to exercise common witness and common service as together we seek to dismantle racism and, in so doing, to be the voice and presence of God's love in the world." (For a copy of this letter, go to http://www.cuicinfo.org/files/2007MLKletter.pdf)
(3) The publication of the summary report, bible studies and presentations from the "CUIC Consultation on Episcope" that took place last October 2-4, 2006, in St. Louis, to address the major issues and concerns around the key element still before the CUIC churches in the "mutual recognition and mutual reconciliation of ordained ministries." [This publication, Call to Unity, may be ordered at $6.50 per single copy; let me know if you want to order a copy by return email.]
I would also call your attention to the up-coming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25), and express my hope that you will encourage the celebration of this event in the life of your community and congregation. Worship and study resources for the 2007 "Week of Prayer" are found at http://www.geii.org/.
I hope each of you and your families had a blessed Christmas. With all best wishes for the New Year,
Robert