Calvin Synod Herald, 1974 (74. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-02-01 / 2. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD c. o. c. u. PRINCETON, N.J. — The nine-denomination Consultation on Church Union, which is seeking to encourage grass roots development of interdenominational structures as a prelude to union, has taken first steps to identify a number of communities where churches might be willing to live together COCU style. Initial contact has been made with some twodozen local ecumenical church groups from Hawaii to Massachusetts that already have relationships deeper than the usual kinds of interchurch cooperation. Some are sharing the Lord’s Supper regularly, have employed staff jointly, are holding common worship, are sharing facilities in other ways, or are engaged in significant joint action. A few include non-COCU churches. COCU’s Commission on Generating Communities hopes to learn from the local groups what structures are possible for union and to share with these communities that are generating union theological insight and what is happening in other places. The commission seeks to covenant with the “generating communities” on an understanding of what are felt to be key elements in the COCU style. Among these key elements will likely be: — Some form of regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper. — Preservation of some of the richness of the denominational heritages and an openess to the heritages of others. — A striving for inclusiveness in race, age, sex, culture and economic class. — Built-in flexibility with openness to change and diversity. — Foundation on historic faith and Scriptures, but encouragement of contemporary expressions as well. — Affirmation of ministry of the laity as well as clergy. Of the ecumenical church groups that have been explored as possible “generating communities,” perhaps as many as ten will be sharing a three-year covenant with COCU by April 1. COiCU, having faced up to resistance at the local level to union structures developed nationally, is turning to local churches to explore a variety of structures. The Consultation has a plan of union drafted in 1970 which, after study by the nine denominations and others, seemed to create few problems in its faith, worship, ministry and sacraments sections, but many in its ideas on structure. The faith-worship-ministrysacraments part of the plan is being revised by another commission, possibly to be sent to the churches for a vote. SPOTLIGHT: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING — S. O. S. One Great Hour of Sharing is the name of the cooperative appeal of more than 30 denominations for supporting the work they do together through Church World Service, the service arm of the National Council of Churches. S.O.S., short for Share Our Substance, is a distinctive addition for the United Church of Christ which reminds us of what was once a separate appeal for our members to support the sharing of agricultural crops with the needy of the world. Both programs have always been an important part of the work of our United Church Board for World Ministries. And they continue to be so! This year, more than one million dollars will be needed to fund the programs and services planned for in this appeal. That is one million dollars contributed by members of the United Church of Christ over-and-above their regular ongoing giving to the Basic Support of Our Christian World Mission! What this means is that if you gave to OGHSSOS last year, your gift is needed this year more than ever. The same economic reasons which make it important for you to watch every dollar have had a devastating effect upon the buying power of the dollars we contribute. If you and the members of your congregation did not participate last year in the One Great Hour of Sharing-SOS appeal, be sure to do so this year. The recommended date in 1974 is March 24. It is one of the three all-church offerings authorized by our General Synod. Your neighbors — at home and abroad — are counting on you to respond. Ed’s Clipsheet, F. 74 • YOUR UNUSED CHURCH OFFERING ENVELOPE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Look inside your church offering envelope box. If you see me there, I’ll tell you a story. Some of my brother envelopes may be there too. They will repeat all I say. I’ll tell you the Sunday you missed church. Just check the date written on me. I can’t tell you why you missed. You’ll have to think back to remember. Was it a good reason — a reason, not an excuse!
