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 Commuinion of Reformed Churches (previously WARC).
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) A meeting of Formula of Agreement partners in 2009 led to a decision to convene a conversation on the hermeneutics of human sexuality beginning in November 2011 in Chicago, with two additional meetings to follow in 2012.
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 article and overview. See the PC(USA)-prepared frequently asked questions written before the agreement was approved. New dialogue concerning liturgy, worship, and sacramental theology has begun, with a next meeting set for May 2011.
Moravian-PC(USA) agreement
A covenant relationship with the Moravian Church in America, Northern and Southern Provinceswas adopted by Presbyterians through the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries. Moravians voted affirmatively in 2010. See the "An Invitation to the Table" document. See also the PC(USA)'s frequently asked questions and a Moravian briefing sheet.
Bilateral results
Additionally, the results of more bilateral dialogue are beginning to bear fruit. Some of these results are in the form of covenant agreements through which each church maintains its own autonomy and individual polity but is open to possibilities for greater witness and mission in joint relationship. (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.
• 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
With the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (including, on the Reformed side, the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church in Christ)—A formal Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism (p.5) was approved by Presbyterians at the General Assembly in 2008 and by subsequent vote of the presbyteries; it was approved by the bishops in 2010. The CRC, RCA, and UCC adopted the agreement this summer. Further dialogue has resulted in an agreed document on the eucharist yet to come before the respective ecclesiastical bodies; see above.
A new bilateral
• Seventh-day Adventist-PC(USA)
With the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA)—Authorization to participate in formal dialogue, to begin in the fall of 2010 and to extend over a four-year period, approved by the General Assembly in 2010. Topics for discussion will include the law, atonement, prophecy, Sabbath, social justice, religious liberty, worship and communion, and education of clergy with an intent to better understand one another and explore ways to approach the Table together. The next meeting will be in November 2011. (Before formal authorization, three exploratory conversations were held annually from 2006.) [See a March 2011 RNS news story about the growth of SDA.]
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. |