Churches Uniting In Christ

 

Updates from CUIC Communions

 

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Social Action Commission of the AME Church worked with Enroll America to promote healthy congregations in compliance with the ACA.

The Social Action Commission of the AME Church submitted testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding mass incarceration.

The AME Church released a statement on the LA Clippers incident which was subsequently endorsed by the CUIC Executive Committee.

Upcoming Events:

The Connectional AME Women in Ministry Conference will be held August 6-9.

 

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

The AME Zion Church will celebrate the Day of Unity on July 20^th with the NAACP, uniting to end social injustices in the Black community, especially HIV

The Board of Bishops of the AME Zion Church released an open letter about overt and covert racism in response to events surrounding Clive Bundy, Donald Sterling, and the Supreme Court decision to uphold a ban on affirmative action. (http://www.amez.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1114:public-release&catid=1:latest&Itemid=2)

Rev. Glenn Grayson, pastor of Wesley Center AME Zion Church was honored by President Obama as a “Champion of Change” on April 3^rd, 2014.

 

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The CME Church hosted its 37^th Quadrennial Session and 38^th General Conference from June 28-July 4.

Jeanette Bouknight, chair of the CUIC Racial and Social Justice Task Force, was reelected as Executive Secretary of the CME Church.

 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The CC(DoC) sent a delegation in June to meet with the Roman Catholic Church in a discussion about the Eucharist as part of an over 25 year long dialogue.

Upcoming Events:

Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly (http://www.obrahispana.org/#!clients/c1a4e), July 16 - 20, San Diego, Calif.

National Convocation of African American Disciples (http://www.nationalconvocation.org/BiennialSession/tabid/919/Default.aspx), July 24 - 27, Columbus, Ohio

NAPAD Convocation of North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (http://napad.net/Home/tabid/769/Default.aspx), Aug. 6 - 9, Chicago, Ill.

 

Episcopal Church

Clergy leaders from the Episcopal Church spoke with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) about income inequality on June 20^th.

On June 25^th, the Episcopal Church Task Force on the Study of Marriage released a toolkit on marriage entitled “Dearly Beloved”.

The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Mississippi held a webcast entitled “Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism” (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/state-racism) in November and a conference entitled Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace April 9^th-11^th (http://www.episcopaloklahoma.org/reclaiming-the-gospel-info.html).

Richard Mammana is the new Associate for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations.

 

International Council of Christian Churches

The Council will meet in its annual conference Monday through Thursday, July 14-17th in Omaha, Nebreska.  There will be an ecumenical update of all of ICCC's involvements in ecumenical affiliations, including CUIC.  The Ecumenical Officers is now a member of the Board of Directors, which means that he will be more of a central part of all matters concerning the Council's life.  Soon, the Board of Directors also will announce the Search for a full-time Executive Directors.  We will contact other CUIC congregations for references.

Moravian Church (Northern Province)

The quadrennial synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province was held in Bethlehem, PA, June 19-23. 

All members of our eight-member national governing board, the Provincial Elders' Conference (PEC), were reelected, including president Betsy Miller.

We directed the PEC to bring plans for reorganization, including more recognition for less traditional forms of ministry, to a special 2016 synod.

We asked all congregations to make their common areas gun-free.

In an atmosphere of prayer and hymnsinging, we approved by a 3-1 vote the ordination of gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships who meet other qualifications for ordination.

We were reminded that U.S. consumption of illegal drugs has led to gang violence in the daily lives of Moravians who live along drug trafficking routes in Honduras, which now has the highest per capita murder rate in the world.

 

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The PCUSA held its General Assembly June 14-21. Two widely publicized decisions were made: to permit clergy to perform marriages for same-sex couples, and to divest financial holdings from Caterpillar, Motorola, and HP for their involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

 

United Church of Christ

The UCC will launch a new fossil-fuel-free investment fund on October 1^st.

The UCC filed suit in North Carolina challenging a ban on gay marriage, and gathered 30,000 petition signatures as part of its “I Do” campaign.

The Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC passed a resolution urging NFL to change Washington Redskins’ name.

 

United Methodist Church

United Methodist pastor Rev. Frank Schaefer’s defrocking for performing same-sex marriages was overturned.

The UMC divested funds from the security firm G4S for involvement in Israel-Palestine conflict.

 

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The ELCA has designated June 22^nd as Refugee Sunday.

Through the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the ELCA launched its #ActofLove campaign to address unaccompanied minor immigrants.

The ELCA issued statement supporting proposed EPA rule on carbon emissions.

Rev. Elizabeth Eaton has been elected as first female presiding bishop of the ELCA.