Editing Churches Uniting in Christ (section)

==Purpose==
The purpose of CUIC has always been unity (as reflected in their current slogan, "reconciling the baptized, seeking unity with justice"). This reflects one of the core scripture passages in the ecumenical movement, Jesus' prayer in John 17:21, "[[That they all may be one]]". CUIC has approached this goal of unity in various ways throughout its history.

===Racism===
Racism has been a primary focus of CUIC since 2002 (and, indeed, a primary focus of COCU alongside other forms of exclusion and prejudice, such as [[sexism]] and [[ableism]]).<ref>{{cite journal | last = Moede | first = Gerald | title = COCU 101 | journal = Mid-Stream | page = 76 | date = Jan 2000 }}</ref> According to Dan Krutz, former president of CUIC, "Overcoming racism has been a focal point of CUIC since its beginning... Racism may be the biggest sin that divides churches."<ref>{{cite web | last = Hagan | first = Janine | title = An Interview with the Rev. C Dana "Dan" Krutz" | date = January 2007 | url = http://www.lainterchurch.org/contact/ecumininet-article_on_fr_dan-flash.swf | access-date = 28 August 2012 | archive-date = 2 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111748/http://www.lainterchurch.org/contact/ecumininet-article_on_fr_dan-flash.swf | url-status = dead }}</ref> Even before the absence of the AME and AMEZ churches at the January 2011 plenary, some in CUIC had noticed the lack of commitment to racial reconciliation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welsh |first=Robert |title=CUIC and the Dance of Ecumenism |date=November 2006 |url=http://www.disciples.org/ccu/fromthepresident/past/2006November.html |access-date=8 September 2012 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Since 2008, however, racism has become an even more pressing concern.<ref>{{cite web| last =Bowman Woods| first =Rebecca| title =Churches Uniting in Christ members recommit to ecumenical tasks| date =21 January 2011| url =http://www.ucc.org/news/churches-uniting-in-christ.html| access-date =12 August 2012| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110125081350/http://www.ucc.org/news/churches-uniting-in-christ.html| archive-date =25 January 2011| url-status =dead| df =dmy-all}}</ref> This has led CUIC to address issues of racism in the public sphere, including the killing of [[Trayvon Martin]]<ref>{{cite news | last = Banks | first = Adelle | title = After Trayvon Martin Case, Churches Say 'Stereotypes Cost Lives' | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = 30 March 2012 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/after-trayvon-martin-case-churches-say-stereotypes-cost-lives/2012/03/30/gIQAEVTWlS_story.html | access-date = 12 August 2012}}</ref> and the recovery from the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]].<ref>{{cite web|last= Thompson |first=Karen Georgia A.|title=Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations 28th General Synod Report |date=April 2011 |url=http://www.ucc.org/synod/pdfs/REPORT-From-the-Committee-on-Ecumenical-and-Interfaith-Relations.pdf |access-date=12 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303050404/http://www.ucc.org/synod/pdfs/REPORT-From-the-Committee-on-Ecumenical-and-Interfaith-Relations.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2013 }}</ref>

===Marks of Commitment===
According to their website, one of the reasons for transitioning from COCU to CUIC is so that member churches "stop 'consulting' and start living their unity in Christ more fully."<ref>{{cite web| title =Marks of Churches Uniting In Christ Participation| url =http://www.churchesunitinginchrist.org/what-you-can-do/resources/19-marks-of-churches-uniting-in-christ-participation| access-date =12 August 2012| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165543/http://www.churchesunitinginchrist.org/what-you-can-do/resources/19-marks-of-churches-uniting-in-christ-participation| archive-date =2015-04-02| url-status =dead}}</ref> This means that each member communion in CUIC agrees to abide by the eight Marks of Commitment, which are summarized as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.churchesunitinginchrist.org/ |title=Home - Churches Uniting in Christ<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2012-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107201146/http://churchesunitinginchrist.org/ |archive-date=2012-11-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Receive each other as Christ's church
*Mutually recognize baptisms & members
*Affirm apostolic creeds
*Celebrate Eucharist together
*Engage in mission & anti-racism
*Promote wholeness & inclusion
*Structure accountability, consultation & decision-making
*Support ongoing theological dialogue