In its founding document, the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry (CUIM; formerly known as the Council on Christian Unity) declared that its purpose was “to watch for every indication of Christian unity.” That commitment continues today. Our journey is thus focused upon remaining alert to God’s leading in our work for unity and wholeness in the Church and society—wherever that may lead.

“To watch for every indication!” This has meant that the CUIM and our church are engaged in an amazingly rich and widely diverse range of ecumenical activities and involvements:

  • Engaging in tough theological conversation with persons who hold different understandings of the faith, interpretations of Scripture, and various practices and traditions from the Disciples of Christ.
  • Joining with Orthodox, Catholic, Reformed, Evangelical, and Pentecostal Christians to offer common witness in addressing the root causes of domestic hunger and poverty.
  • Addressing the reality of overcoming racism through encounters that call for repentance, confession, and forgiveness of past and present sin that has divided the Church and betrays our witness to God’s offer of reconciliation in Christ.
  • Providing programs and opportunities of education and formation of a new generation of Disciples for ecumenical leadership—especially in seeking youth and young adult involvement in all programs of the CUIM’s life.
  • Working with other churches and Christians on issues of ecology and global warming, overcoming violence, and seeking peace and justice for all God’s children.

In 2005 the Board of the CUIM engaged in a church-wide process of “mapping the ecumenical movement for the 21st century” to look afresh at where God’s call to unity would lead us in the future. We returned again to affirm that the vision and goal of unity are discovered as we gather at an “Open Table,” where Christ continues the work of healing and reconciliation. In pursuing this sacred and sacramental vision of unity, the CUIM identified three “frontiers” for our future work and program:

  • Becoming a multi-cultural and inclusive church
  • Developing a deeper and more dynamic ecumenical spirituality
  • Understanding what it means to live in the changing landscape of an interfaith context and interreligious world.

Today, the CUIM is seeking to balance our historic ecumenical commitments and involvements with new and exciting challenges and opportunities of the 21st century Church.

We continue to watch for every indication of unity and wholeness in pursuit of the full visible unity of all Christians and churches. We do not go alone, for we know that God is with us leading the way.

And so we celebrate a century past, and the new day to come. The journey continues.