2402. Councils and Consultations of Churches--1. The Consultation on Church Union
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 918).
b) United Methodist financial support of the Consultation on Church Union shall be remitted through the General Council on Finance and Administration in accordance with 918.
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 918.
b) The United Methodist representatives and proxies 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 it include racial and ethnic persons, insofar as possible representing each ethnic group--Asian American, Black American, Hispanic American, and Native American, 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 secretary of the Council of Bishops, 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.
The Council of Bishops shall approve a list of proxies for the jurisdictional representatives, drawing wherever possible on the original panel of names provided. The Council of Bishops shall provide proxies for any of their own representatives who are unable to attend a particular session of the governing board. The General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns shall choose proxies for a particular session for the designated staff delegates on recommendations from the chief executive of the agency from which the official delegate comes.
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 918 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 805.4.
c) United Methodist support of the World Council of Churches shall be remitted (in accordance with 918) 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.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 2402
1996 United Methodist General Conference