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The United Church of Christ (UCC) continues its commitment to fostering reconciliation among Christian denominations through full communion agreements. At the upcoming 35th General Synod, scheduled for July 11-15 in Kansas City, Missouri, delegates will vote on two resolutions to establish full communion with the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) and the Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico (IEUPR). These relationships aim to enhance unity and cooperation while maintaining each denomination's distinct identity.
Full communion is defined as a mutual recognition and shared faith agreement between denominations, allowing for the recognition of sacraments and orderly transfer of ministers without merging the entities. This concept has been integral to UCC's ecumenical efforts, as evidenced by their longstanding partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since 1989. This partnership allows ministers from both denominations to serve congregations interchangeably and includes collaborative international work through Global Ministries.
Beyond DOC, UCC maintains full communion agreements with several other denominations: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in America, and United Church of Canada. The latter agreement was finalized at UCC's 30th General Synod in June 2015.
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson described these partnerships by saying, “Think about us as your best first cousin that you didn’t know.” She highlighted the similarities between UCC and its partners, emphasizing justice orientation and commitment to Christian unity.
For those interested in observing proceedings at this year's General Synod, including votes on new agreements, a livestream page will be available.
