¶
2402. Councils and Consultations of Churches and Covenantal
Relationships--1. The Consultation on Church Union and the Church of
Christ Uniting--a) The United Methodist Church is a member of the
Consultation on Church Union, its predecessor Methodist and Evangelical United
Brethren churches having been involved in its very beginnings and in all its
committees and plenary consultations. It has borne its appropriate share of
financial support and through the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund is
authorized and directed to continue its support (see ¶ 818).
b) The United Methodist Church
is in covenantal relationship with other churches in the Church of Christ
Uniting.
c) United Methodist financial
support of the Consultation on Church Union shall be remitted through the
General Council on Finance and Administration in accordance with ¶ 818.
2. The
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.--a) The United
Methodist Church is a member of the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A., its predecessor Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren
churches having been charter members of such body. It has borne its
proportionate share of financial support and through the Interdenominational
Cooperation Fund is authorized and directed to continue its support. United
Methodist financial support of the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A. shall be remitted through the General Council on Finance and
Administration in accordance with ¶ 818.
b) The United Methodist
representatives to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
governing board shall be selected by the Council of Bishops from nominations
reviewed by the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns. Recommendations of names for consideration may be sent by annual
conferences to the jurisdictional conferences. Each jurisdictional conference shall
provide to the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns a panel of twelve names with biographical data recommending that it
include racial and ethnic persons, insofar as possible, representing each
ethnic group--Asian American, African American, Hispanic American, Native
American, and Pacific Islander--from which four persons will be chosen by the
Council of Bishops as voting delegates. Persons named to the panel shall
represent consideration of quotas and balances required both by The United
Methodist Church and the National Council of Churches. To supplement the panel
from the jurisdictions, if necessary in order to ensure inclusiveness in the
delegation, the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious
Concerns may recommend additional names to the Council of Bishops. The
jurisdictional conference may report order of selection or priority if it
desires.
In
addition to the delegates representing the jurisdictions, the Council of
Bishops shall name five of their number, one of whom is to be the ecumenical
officer of the Council of Bishops (term to begin September 1, 1996), as part of
the clergy quota. Also, the Council of Bishops shall, from the nominations by
the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, name as
delegates the appropriate number of staff persons to complete the current
complement of delegates allowed from The United Methodist Church.
When
proxies are needed to substitute for United Methodist representatives to the
National Council of Churches, the general secretary of the General Commission
on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, in consultation with the
ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops, is authorized to name such
proxies. Consideration shall be given to individuals within the jurisdictional
conference pools, to other United Methodists residing in the area of the
National Council meeting, and to the inclusivity of the delegation. The names
of proxies shall be reported at the next meeting of the Council of Bishops.
Representatives
from The United Methodist Church to various unit committees and working groups
of the National Council of Churches, normally nominated by the National Council
of Churches units, shall be cleared and affirmed or substitutions made by the
general commission, in consultation with the Council of Bishops wherever
necessary or desired by either the council or the commission.
c) United Methodist financial
support of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. shall
include: that council's share of the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund, as
determined by the General Conference; and such payments by the general agencies
of the Church as each agency may deem its responsibility and proportionate
share in the cooperative program of the council.
(1)
United Methodist support of the basic budget of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. shall be established by the General Conference
in the budget of the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund. Such support shall
be remitted in accordance with ¶[F255D%0] 818 through the General Council on
Finance and Administration in the manner directed by the latter council.
(2)
Payments by the general agencies of the Church to the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. shall be reported to the General Council on
Finance and Administration.
(3)
The General Council on Finance and Administration shall include a summary
report for United Methodist gifts and contributions to the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. in its annual financial report to the
Church.
3. The
World Council of Churches--a) The United Methodist Church is a member of
the World Council of Churches, its predecessor Methodist and Evangelical United
Brethren churches having been charter members of such body. It should bear its
proportionate share of financial support and through the Interdenominational
Cooperation Fund is authorized and directed to continue its support.
b) The representatives of The
United Methodist Church to the Assembly and other agencies of the World Council
of Churches shall be nominated by the General Commission on Christian Unity and
Interreligious Concerns and named by the Council of Bishops, due regard being
given to geographical representation and inclusiveness in the spirit of ¶
705.2.
c) United Methodist support of
the World Council of Churches shall be remitted (in accordance with ¶ 818)
through the General Council on Finance and Administration, which shall give due
credit for United Methodist gifts and contributions received by the World
Council of Churches and shall include them in its annual financial report to
the Church.