[ENS] The United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) formally approved a proposal to enter a new ecumenical partnership with seven other denominations, Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), that will be inaugurated January 20, 2002 in Memphis. The July 16 votes took place at the joint meetings of the denominations in Kansas City.

CUIC is successor to the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) that worked for more than 40 years to promote unity among historic black churches - such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church--as well as the UCC, Disciples, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and the International Council of Community Churches.

The nine churches will retain their own identities but live into a partnership in which they will seek new cooperation in ministry and mission, especially ways to combat racism. The churches also look forward to the day when their clergy will be able to serve and preside at worship services in the other denominations, setting a goal for reconciliation of ministries by 2007.

Bishop McKinley Young of the African Methodist Episcopal Church called racism "a church-dividing, faith-denying and community-destroying reality that must be > eradicated. It is an evil practice among individuals, churches and nations. Racism is a sin and without repentance it is unto death."

Young said that CUIC provides a "unique opportunity for the ecumenical community to embrace with enthusiasm and excitement a new future, devoid of the baggage of racism, where we exercise mutual respect and equal regard."