Religion: Preparing for One Church

"Conversations about unity" that would bring 19 million American Protestants into one church together will be held this week in Washington among leaders of the Methodist. Episcopal, United Church of Christ and United Presbyterian churches. Not since Presbyterian Eugene Carson Blake proposed church union from the pulpit of San Francisco's Episcopal Grace Cathedral in 1960 have churchmen met to discuss the plan's intricacies. This week's meeting is, at best, preparatory, but it may chart the course toward a Protestant summit conference.

To many, the most encouraging thing is the spirit of the description the prospective united church has devised for itself...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!