WASHINGTON (ABP) — An ambitious new ecumenical Christian group has postponed its formal organization due to a lack of enthusiasm from historically African-American denominations.
Supporters decided to delay organizing Christian Churches Together during a June 1-3 meeting which was held for that purpose. A large, public kick-off ceremony is scheduled at the National Cathedral in Washington in September.
At the recent meeting, held at a Jesuit retreat center near San Francisco, more than 60 representatives from 31 different Christian bodies agreed to postpone CCT's launch until they could shore up support among historically African-American denominations — particularly Baptist and Methodist groups, which claim the vast majority of black Christians in the United States.
“The decision was made to delay a formal launch planned for this fall in order to continue the productive and positive conversation with churches and organizations actively considering joining,” read a statement from Wes Granberg-Michaelson, chair of CCT's steering committee and executive of the Reformed Church in America. “Participants enthusiastically reaffirmed their commitment to 'grow closer together in Christ in order to strengthen our Christian witness in the world.'”
Church leaders first envisioned CCT in 2001 as a coalition of Christian traditions that would be much broader than the older National Council of Churches. While the New York-based NCC is home to mainline Protestant groups as well as Eastern Orthodox churches and many historically black denominations, Catholics and Southern Baptists are not a part of NCC, and most evangelical and Pentecostal denominations have avoided it.
However, evangelical and Pentecostal leaders have hoped for a broader approach with CCT, bringing Christians from diverse traditions together for fellowship and common causes while avoiding “lowest-common-denominator” compromises on theological or political issues.
But that very inclusiveness may be causing the lagging support from African-American denominations. The involvement of conservative churches would diminish CCT's “capacity to be responsive on the issues of peace and justice,” said Bishop McKinley Young of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, according to the Enterprise-Record in Chico, Calif. Young has served on CCT's steering committee.
African-American denominational officials reportedly also were concerned that CCT would become a competitor to the NCC. However, NCC officials have been publicly supportive of CCT's formation.
So far, according to Granberg-Michaelson, 31 denominations or parachurch groups have formally decided to join CCT, and observers from another 20 groups attended the California meeting.
While the SBC has declined any interest in the new group, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the American Baptist Churches USA are involved in the formation of CCT.