Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The nine-church covenanting proposal recently endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) may be the unity beacon the world is seeking, according to a World Council of Churches official.
"The world is urgently looking for a sign or model of unity and hasn't found it," said the Rev. Alan Falconer, a leading ecumenist and director of the WCC Faith and Order Commission.
The Disciples General Assembly's October action adopting "Churches in Covenant Communion" was a "transforming moment" in the denomination's life, echoed the Rev. Paul A. Crow Jr. In backing the measure, the Disciples articulated a "yearning for unity," and confirmed "our vocation is to be a reconciling church," Crow said.
President of the Disciples Council on Christian Unity since 1974, Crow was the first general secretary of the Consultation on Church Union (CCU), the coordinating body for the union proposal.
Divisions over race, economics and class, rises in fundamentalism and nationalism, along with environmental and other issues make the search for unity critical, Falconer said Nov. 4 to the CCU board of directors.
The Reformed Church of Scotland clergyman challenged the church to reassume its role in addressing these problems. And again, reconciliation is the key, according to Falconer. "Unity can't be achieved without reconciliation it's inconceivable."
Churches have not been major actors in the unity movement, he lamented. Rather, churches have tacitly conceded that role to politicians, whom Falconer said have "taken the risk. We offer no credible sign of unity. This acts as a counter witness to that claim."
The settings for ecumenism or church unity involve three areas: the Gospel, the church and the world, he said. The World Council's role is to help churches fulfill their calling to unity. And this task involves the "laos" or "whole people of God."
Falconer also keynoted the 14th Peter Ainslie Lecture, Nov. 5, in Tulsa, Okla. The event, sponsored by the Council on Christian Unity, is named for an early Disciples ecumenist who served as CCU's first chief executive.
In other action, the Rev. G. Hugh Wilson, Norman, Okla., was named to a second term as chairperson. Also elected as board officers for 1996-1997 were: the Rev. Suzanne Webb, Carbondale, Ill., first vice president; the Rev. Roy L. Griggs, Tulsa, second vice president; and the Rev. Mary Anne Glover, Indianapolis, secretary. Six persons were elected to new terms on the board of directors.
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