Consultation on Church Union
Encyclopedia
The Consultation on Church Union (COCU) was an effort towards church unity in the United States
, that began in 1962 and in 2002 became the Churches Uniting in Christ
. It was a significant part of the Christian movement
towards Ecumenism
.
This effort can be seen in the context of the worldwide ecumenical attitude that was manifested in the 1948 formation of the World Council of Churches
, the 1950 formation of the National Council of Churches
, the 1957 formation of the United Church of Christ
, and the formation of the Roman Catholic Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
during the Second Vatican Council
(which occurred from 1962 to 1965).
The United Church of Christ
is a visual example of COCU's initiatives. It was a merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
and the Congregational Christian Churches
.
According to a May 13, 1962 Time magazine article, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835526-1,00.html the COCU was proposed as a giant Protestant superchurch by Presbyterian Rev. Eugene Carson Blake
in 1962. Time reports that a meeting in Dallas in May 1966 produced a timetable for merger that called for "creation and ratification of a union plan within 13 years, followed by some 30 years of federation during which a constitution will be prepared." Among delegates from the eight churches then involved were Methodist Theologian Albert Outler
, Episcopal Bishop Robert Gibson
of Virginia, and United Church of Christ
Minister David Colwell.
Despite intense negotiations, membership of the denominations overwhelmingly rejected the merger plan when it was proposed in 1969.
A key phrase associated with COCU was “catholic and reformed” (later, “catholic, evangelical, and reformed”).
model of bishop
, presbyter
and deacon
. However, the Presbyterian Church USA was unwilling to implement some of the changes to its internal rules that this model would require, and the Episcopal Church did not feel able to participate at the time. It was then proposed that intercommunion be established without a resolution of the ministry issue, which would be resolved by 2007 by means of intensive dialog between the churches.
(CUIC) is the successor organization to the Consultation on Church Union.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, that began in 1962 and in 2002 became the Churches Uniting in Christ
Churches Uniting in Christ
Churches Uniting in Christ brings together ten mainline American denominations , and was inaugurated on January 20, 2002....
. It was a significant part of the Christian movement
Christian movements
A Christian movement is a theological, political, or philosophical interpretation of Christianity that is not generally represented by a specific church, sect, or denomination.- Religious :...
towards Ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
History
The original task of COCU was to negotiate a merger between its four (and later ten) member denominations; however, the merger never happened under that banner.This effort can be seen in the context of the worldwide ecumenical attitude that was manifested in the 1948 formation of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, the 1950 formation of the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
, the 1957 formation of the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
, and the formation of the Roman Catholic Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
during the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
(which occurred from 1962 to 1965).
The United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
is a visual example of COCU's initiatives. It was a merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
and the Congregational Christian Churches
Congregational Christian Churches
The Congregational Christian Churches were a Protestant Christian denomination that operated in the U.S. from 1931 through 1957. On the latter date, most of its churches joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church in a merger to become the United Church of Christ. Others created the National...
.
According to a May 13, 1962 Time magazine article, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835526-1,00.html the COCU was proposed as a giant Protestant superchurch by Presbyterian Rev. Eugene Carson Blake
Eugene Carson Blake
Eugene Carson Blake was an American Protestant Church leader in the 1950s and 60s, and President of the National Council of Churches in the United States, 1954—1957...
in 1962. Time reports that a meeting in Dallas in May 1966 produced a timetable for merger that called for "creation and ratification of a union plan within 13 years, followed by some 30 years of federation during which a constitution will be prepared." Among delegates from the eight churches then involved were Methodist Theologian Albert Outler
Albert Outler
Albert Cook Outler was a 20th century American Methodist theologian and philosopher. Outler is generally considered to be one of the most important Wesley scholars in the history of the Church as well as the first real United Methodist theologian...
, Episcopal Bishop Robert Gibson
Robert Gibson
Robert Gibson may refer to:* Robert W. Gibson , English-American ecclesiastical architect active in New York City* Robert Gibson , Australian businessman* Robert Gibson , American baseball player...
of Virginia, and United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
Minister David Colwell.
Despite intense negotiations, membership of the denominations overwhelmingly rejected the merger plan when it was proposed in 1969.
Intercommunion
With the failure of the merger proposal, COCU then turned to negotiating "intercommunion", whereby each member church would retain its own autonomy and identity, while recognizing the validity of the rites and ministry of the others and accepting them as true churches.A key phrase associated with COCU was “catholic and reformed” (later, “catholic, evangelical, and reformed”).
Episcopal structure
In 1991 it was proposed that this was to be done on the historic episcopalEpiscopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
model of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, presbyter
Presbyter
Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
and deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. However, the Presbyterian Church USA was unwilling to implement some of the changes to its internal rules that this model would require, and the Episcopal Church did not feel able to participate at the time. It was then proposed that intercommunion be established without a resolution of the ministry issue, which would be resolved by 2007 by means of intensive dialog between the churches.
Dissolution
After forty years of talks, COCU was dissolved in 2002. Churches Uniting in ChristChurches Uniting in Christ
Churches Uniting in Christ brings together ten mainline American denominations , and was inaugurated on January 20, 2002....
(CUIC) is the successor organization to the Consultation on Church Union.
Documents
COCU produced several ecumenically developed texts:- the famous sermon preached by Eugene Carson Blake in Grace Cathedral
- The Principles of Church Union
- The Plan of Union for the Church of Christ Uniting,
- Mutual Recognition of Members in One Baptism,
- Lenten booklets such as Liberation and Unity,
- the COCU liturgy of the Lord’s Supper,
- The COCU Consensus,
- Churches in Covenant Communion
Notable people involved in the COCU effort
- Arthur MarshallArthur MarshallArthur Marshall, MBE was a British writer and broadcaster, born in Barnes, London in the UK. He was best known as a team captain on the BBC's Call My Bluff.-Life and career:...
- Harold JohnsonHarold JohnsonHarold Johnson may refer to:*Harold Johnson , professional boxer*Harold Keith Johnson , American general*Harold Johnson , American astronomer*Harold T...
- Robert TaylorRobert Taylor (actor)Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
- James McCord