1. Ecumenical Commitment

G-15.0101
Openness

G-15.0102
Other Christian
Bodies

G-15.0103
All Levels

G-15.0104
Non-Christian
Religious Bodies

G-15.0105
Secular Groups

2. Relations with Other Denominations

G-15.0201
Churches in
Correspondence

1. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in full communion with those churches so recognized by ecumenical agreements approved by the General Assembly.
2. The General Assembly is in correspondence with the highest governing body:
1. of those churches with which it has had historical relations outside the United States,
2. of those churches that are members of the ecumenical bodies in which the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) holds membership, and
3. of those churches with which the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has formal ecumenical dialogue approved by the General Assembly.

G-15.0202
Recognition of
Ordination

1. When a particular church of another denomination requests that it be received by a presbytery of this denomination, the presbytery shall verify that the church has been regularly dismissed by the governing body of jurisdiction, and the advice of the highest governing body of that denomination dealing with relations between denominations has been received, and shall then receive the church in accord with its responsibilities and powers. (G-11.0103h.)

2. Similar procedures shall be followed in dismissing a particular church from this denomination to another. (G-11.0103i)

G-15.0204
Federated or
Union Churches

1. A presbytery may authorize a particular church to form a federated or union church with a church or churches of another denomination or denominations, or may organize a federated or union church acting in concert with a comparable governing body of another denomination or denominations. For the formation of a union church see G-16.0000.

2. A federated church shall conduct its life and work under a plan of agreement between the presbytery and the other governing body or bodies. This plan shall follow provisions of G-16.0000 as clearly as is practicable, and it shall be subject to the constitutions (disciplines or other organic documents) of each church involved. Whenever the constitutions differ, the mandatory provisions of one shall apply in all cases when the others are permissive. Whenever there are conflicting mandatory provisions, petition shall be made to the appropriate governing bodies of the denominations to resolve the conflict either by authoritative interpretation or by constitutional amendment.

3. Church Union

G-15.0301
Organic Union

   Full organic union of this church with any other ecclesiastical body can be effected in the following manner:

1. the approval of the proposed union by the General Assembly and its recommendation to the presbyteries;
2. the approval in writing of two thirds of the presbyteries;
3. the approval and consummation by the next ensuing General Assembly, or other General Assembly specified in the proposed plan of union.

G-15.0302
Ecumenical
Statements

1. In the search for the unity of Christ’s Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may from time to time receive for guidance statements of ecumenical consensus that regularly chosen representatives of this church have helped to formulate. The purpose of receiving such ecumenical statements shall be to guide the particular churches and governing bodies of this church as they share in joint action with other ecclesiastical bodies seeking ways to express the unity of the Church and to discover its possible future form.

2. Such an ecumenical statement shall be approved by the General Assembly as a guide for such shared action and shall be submitted to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes together with a statement of the specific purpose and the effect of approving it. When the next ensuing General Assembly shall have received written advice that an ecumenical statement has received the affirmative vote of a majority of the presbyteries, that statement shall serve as guidance for participation in ecumenical activity.

3. Ecumenical statements which have been approved by the General Assembly and a majority of the presbyteries in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs shall be published as “Received Ecumenical Statements of Guidance.” Such statements shall not be part of theConstitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as defined in G-1.0500 unless adopted as amendments pursuant to Chapter XVIII, “Amendments.” Ecumenical activity under the guidance of such received ecumenical statements may be conducted only under provisions of the Constitution thereof.
4. Governing bodies are encouraged and permitted to discover and engage in opportunities to minister together in mutual affirmation and admonition with churches with whom the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in full communion.