The 223 General Assembly approves a variety of relationships with ecumenical and interfaith partners

ST. LOUIS — There were three items brought before plenary at the 223^rdGeneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee. Scott Prouty, committee moderator, presented an overture (07-02) that asks the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to nominate a number of international churchesto be invited to send ecumenical advisory delegates to the 224^thGeneral Assembly (2020). The 223^rdGeneral Assembly approved the following churches to be invited to the 224^thGeneral Assembly (2020): Evangelical Church of Vietnam, Presbyterian Church of Myanmar, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, Waldensian Church, Presbyterian Church of Mozambique (IPM), Ethiopia Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus (EECMY), The United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands, United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPUB) and the Evangelical Church of the River Plate. In the United States and/or Canada, the following are also invited: African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Community of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Greek Orthodox Church Archdiocese of North America, and the United Church of Canada.

Prouty, after urging commissioners to be aware of the ways they interact with ecumenical partners and councils, presented the two ecumenical advisory delegates who served on committee 7, with gifts of a prayer cross and prayer card. The crosses and cards were made by members of congregations throughout the PC(USA), and prayed over by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee. Prouty also presented two of the prayer crosses and cards to the new co-moderators, Cindy Kohlmann and Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, as a reminder that they are covered by prayers as they travel throughout the church.

The next item that came to the floor was item 07-01, “America’s Interfaith Context and the Church’s Challenge.” It was approved. The overture calls “upon all Presbyterians to continue to live repentantly by seeking reconciliation with all religious groups who have been hurt by unjust actions and words of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and with those who have hurt Presbyterians and ecumenical partners in the United States and overseas.”  The intent of the overture is to promote interfaith conversations and partnerships in communities, as well interreligious dialogue through the resources of the Office of Interfaith Relations.

Susan Etherton, vice moderator of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee, invited Mienda Uriarte, Area Coordinator of Asia and Pacific, to give voice to “On Covenant Agreement Between Gereja Masehi Injill di Minahasa (GMIM) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)”(07-07). Uriarte spoke of the ways this covenant relationship between GMIM and the PC(USA) can enrich the Christian love between the two Reformed denominations. In 2016, the GMIM General Assembly “made a commitment and took formal action to nurture and care for diaspora members throughout the world.” The 223^rdGeneral Assembly commissioners voted to approve this overture. The General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, in relationship with the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency, will “explore the possibility of developing a covenant relationship with GMIM, in consultation with presbyteries having significant Indonesian and Minahasan-speaking members.” A report will be presented at the 224^thGeneral Assembly (2020).

The Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations committee then invited Carlos Malave from Christian Churches Together to bring greetings. Malave shared that Christian Churches Together is an ecumenical gathering that brings together Christians from the Evangelical Pentecostal perspective. Christian Churches Together gathers uncommon groups who have common words and common actions, especially on issues like immigration and mass incarceration. Malave said coming together in diversity is difficult however, “We are trying in the name of Christ to bring Christians together to give critical witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”