# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S414
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

414 ADDITIONAL THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS—OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

separate and independent, but have such mutual relations that the
act of one of them is the act of the whole Church performed by it
through the appropriate governing body. The jurisdiction of each
governing body is limited by the express provisions of the Consti-
tution, with the acts of each subject to review by the next higher
governing body (G-9.0103).

The Reformed Church in America: Upon an affirmative vote by
the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the
declaration of full communion wil] be effected throughout the
church, and the Commission on Christian Unity will, in accordance
with the responsibilities granted by the Book of Church Order, pro-
ceed to initiate and supervise the effecting of the intention of full
communion as described in the Formula of Agreement.

The Commission on Christian Unity has advised the General
Synod and the church of the forthcoming vote for full communion
in 1997. The Commission will put before the General Synod the
Formula of Agreement and any and all correlative recommenda-
tions toward effecting the Reformed Church in America declaring
itself to be in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United
Church of Christ.

The Constitution of the RCA gives responsibility for ecumeni-
cal relations to the General Synod (BCO, Chapter 1, Part IV, Arti-
cle 2, Section 5). To be faithful to the ecumenical calling, the Gen-
eral Synod empowers its Commission on Christian Unity to initiate
and supervise action relating to correspondence and cooperative re-
lationship with the highest judicatories or assemblies of other
Christian denominations and the engaging in interchurch conver-
sations “in all matters pertaining to the extension of the Kingdom
of God.”

The Constitution of the RCA gives responsibility to the Com-
mission on Christian Unity for informing “the church of current ec-
umenical developments and advising the church concerning its ec-
umenical participation and relationships” (BCO, Chapter 3, Part I,
Article 5, Section 3).

Granted its authority by the General Synod, the Commission on
Christian Unity has appointed RCA dialogue and conversation part-
ners since 1962 to the present. It has received all reports and, where
action was required, has presented recommendation(s) to the Gen-
eral Synod for vote and implementation in the church.

The United Church of Christ: The United Church of Christ
(UCC) will act on the recommendation that it enter into full com-

2001 Convention Workbook

munion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Reformed Church in Amer-
ica, by vote of the General Synod in 1997. This vote is binding on
the General Synod and is received by local churches, associations,
and conferences for implementation in accordance with the
covenantal polity outlined in paragraphs 14, 15, and 16 of the Con-
stitution of the United Church of Christ.

The UCC is “composed of Local Churches, Associations, Con-
ferences, and the General Synod.” The constitution and bylaws of
the United Church of Christ lodge responsibility for ecumenical
life with the General Synod and with its chief executive officer, the
president of the United Church of Christ. Article VII of the consti-
tution grants to the General Synod certain powers. Included among
these are the power:

To determine the relationship of the UCC with ecumenical or-
ganizations, world confessional bodies, and other interdenomina-
tional agencies (Article VII, par. 45h).

To encourage conversation with other communions and when
appropriate to authorize and guide negotiations with them looking
toward formal union, (VII, 451).

In the polity of the UCC, the powers of the General Synod can
never, to use a phrase from the Constitution, “invade the autonomy
of Conferences, Associations, or Local Churches.” The autonomy
of the local church is “inherent and modifiable only by its own ac-
tion” (IV, 15). However, it is important to note that this autonomy
is understood in the context of “mutual Christian concern and in
dedication to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church,” (IV, 14). This
Christological and covenantal understanding of autonomy is clearly
expressed in the Constitutional paragraphs which immediately pre-
cede and follow the discussion of local church autonomy:

The Local Churches of the UCC have, in fellowship, a God-
given responsibility for that Church, its labors and its extension,
even as the UCC has, in fellowship, a God-given responsibility for
the well-being and needs and aspirations of its Local Churches. In
mutual Christian concern and in dedication to Jesus Christ, the
Head of the Church, the one and the many share in common Chris-
tian experience and responsibility (IV, 14).

Actions by, or decisions or advice emanating from, the General
Synod, a Conference, or an Association, should be held in the high-
est regard by every Local Church (IV, 16).