Launch of New U.S. Church Alliance Scheduled for 2005

Ecumenical News International
January 28, 2004
by Chris Herlinger

A new grouping of US churches that would widen ecumenical dialogue within the United States is expected to be launched in 2005.

The new alliance, which is currently being called Christian Churches Together in the USA, would be the first formal group to include representatives of Protestant, Episcopal (Anglican) Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Orthodox and predominantly African-American denominations.

"Never before in the history of the United States has such a broad and widely representative group come together in this way," said a statement from the Disciples News Service after a meeting of 50 church leaders held in early January in Houston, Texas.

Neither the Roman Catholic Church - the single biggest denomination in the US - nor many Evangelical or Pentecostal bodies belong to the US National Council of Churches (NCC), currently the main ecumenical body in the US.

"Present realities in the US leave the churches deeply divided, with no place for Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, historic Protestant, Orthodox, and other Christian traditions to come together in fellowship, in order to strengthen witness in the world," said the Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the Reformed Church in America and chairman of the coalition's steering committee.

The Houston gathering was the fourth such meeting since 2001. Organizers first met amid speculation that such a body might replace the NCC. However, that does not appear to be an aim of the new grouping, with potential members saying it will be a streamlined organization with a small staff.

A statement about the group says it aims to provide "a common witness for Christ to the world" and would speak out on shared public concerns, as well as foster "faithful evangelism" and seek "reconciliation by affirming our commonalities and understanding our differences".

At least 25 denominations are expected to join the new group, the minimum number that organizers say is required for the new alliance to be launched.

Denominations and bodies that have signaled a willingness to form the new coalition are being asked to give their formal approval to the plan over the next twelve months.