Editing Presbyterian Church (USA) (section)

==Ecumenical relationships and full communion partnerships==
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) determines and approves ecumenical statements, agreements, and maintains correspondence with other Presbyterian and Reformed bodies, other Christians churches, alliances, councils, and consortia. Ecumenical statements and agreements are subject to the ratification of the presbyteries. The following are some of the major ecumenical agreements and partnerships.

The church is committed to "engage in bilateral and multilateral dialogues with other churches and traditions in order to remove barriers of misunderstanding and establish common affirmations."<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Presbyterian Church (USA) | title = Office of the General Assembly | contribution = Department of Ecumenical and Agency Relationships | url = http://www.pcusa.org/dear/ecurelations.htm | access-date = December 12, 2009 | archive-date = August 11, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090811175829/https://www.pcusa.org/dear/ecurelations.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> As of 2012 it is in dialogue with the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]], the [[Moravian Church]], the [[Korean Presbyterian Church in America]], the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church]], the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America]], and the [[US Conference of Catholic Bishops]]. It also participates in international dialogues through the [[World Council of Churches]] and the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]. The most recent international dialogues include Pentecostal churches, the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], [[Orthodox Church in America]], and others.

In 2011 the [[National Presbyterian Church in Mexico]], in 2012 the [[Mizoram Presbyterian Church]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Mizoram-Presbyterian-church-snaps-US-ties-over-gay-stand/articleshow/14042660.cms |title=Mizoram Presbyterian church snaps US ties over gay stand |website=The Times of India |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2018 |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102121946/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Mizoram-Presbyterian-church-snaps-US-ties-over-gay-stand/articleshow/14042660.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2015 the [[Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil]] along with the [[Evangelical Presbyterian and Reformed Church in Peru]] severed ties with the PCUSA because of the PCUSA's teaching with regard to homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.layman.org/two-mission-partners-break-ties-with-pcusa-over-same-sex-marriage/ |title=Two mission partners break ties with PCUSA over same-sex marriage |work=The Layman Online |date=August 7, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124014906/http://www.layman.org/two-mission-partners-break-ties-with-pcusa-over-same-sex-marriage/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===National and international ecumenical memberships===
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is in corresponding partnership with the [[National Council of Churches]], the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wcrc.ch/node/164 |title=Member churches &#124; Bringing together 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide |publisher=World Communion of Reformed Churches |access-date=August 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808192417/http://www.wcrc.ch/node/164 |archive-date=August 8, 2012 }}</ref> and the [[World Council of Churches]]. It is a member of [[Churches for Middle East Peace]].

===Formula of agreement===
[[File:FirstPresbyterianChurch SagHarbor HABS cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Old Whaler's Church (Sag Harbor)]]

In 1997 the PCUSA and three other churches of Reformation heritage: the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]], the [[Reformed Church in America]] and the [[United Church of Christ]], acted on an ecumenical proposal of historic importance, known as ''[[A Formula of Agreement]]''. The timing reflected a doctrinal consensus which had been developing over the past thirty-two years coupled with an increasing urgency for the church to proclaim a gospel of unity in contemporary society. In light of identified doctrinal consensus, desiring to bear visible witness to the unity of the Church, and hearing the call to engage together in God's mission, it was recommended:

{{Blockquote |That the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]], the Presbyterian Church (USA), the [[Reformed Church in America]], and the [[United Church of Christ]] declare on the basis of A Common Calling and their adoption of this A Formula of Agreement that they are in full communion with one another. Thus, each church is entering into or affirming full communion with three other churches.<ref>Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order (2009/2011). C-1.</ref>|title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order (2009/2011)|source=C-1}}

The term "full communion" is understood here to specifically mean that the four churches:
* recognize each other as churches in which the gospel is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered according to the Word of God;
* withdraw any historic condemnation by one side or the other as inappropriate for the life and faith of our churches today;
* continue to recognize each other's Baptism and authorize and encourage the sharing of the Lord's Supper among their members; recognize each other's various ministries and make provision for the orderly exchange of ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament;
* establish appropriate channels of consultation and decision-making within the existing structures of the churches;
* commit themselves to an ongoing process of theological dialogue in order to clarify further the common understanding of the faith and foster its common expression in evangelism, witness, and service;
* pledge themselves to living together under the Gospel in such a way that the principle of mutual affirmation and admonition becomes the basis of a trusting relationship in which respect and love for the other will have a chance to grow.

The agreement assumed the doctrinal consensus articulated in A Common Calling:The Witness of Our Reformation Churches in North America Today, and is to be viewed in concert with that document. The purpose of A Formula of Agreement is to elucidate the complementarity of affirmation and admonition as the basic principle of entering into full communion and the implications of that action as described in A Common Calling.

The 209th General Assembly (1997) approved A Formula of Agreement and in 1998 the 210th General Assembly declared full communion among these Protestant bodies.

===World Communion of Reformed Churches===
{{As of|2010|06|post=,}} the World Alliance of Reformed Churches merged with the [[Reformed Ecumenical Council]] to form the [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]. The result was a form of full communion similar to that outline in the Formula of Agreement, including orderly exchange of ministers.

===Churches Uniting in Christ===
The PC(USA) is one of nine denominations that joined to form the [[Consultation on Church Union]], which initially sought a merger of the denominations. In 1998 the Seventh Plenary of the Consultation on Church Union approved a document "Churches in Covenant Communion: The Church of Christ Uniting" as a plan for the formation of a covenant communion of churches. In 2002 the nine denominations inaugurated the new relationship and became known as [[Churches Uniting in Christ]]. The partnership is considered incomplete until the partnering communions reconcile their understanding of ordination and devise an orderly exchange of clergy.