The Episcopal Church's delegation to the 18th plenary of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU) meeting in St. Louis in January agreed to vote yes on a plan to form a covenant communion to be known as Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), but will not refer it to General Convention until agreement is reached on issues of governance, in particular an understanding of the role and oversight of bishops.

The plenary asked that participating churches declare publicly in the year 2002 that they are Churches Uniting in Christ and that they fully accept one another's ministers by 2007.

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop, told representatives of the nine COCU churches that Episcopalians have "great difficulty" with deletion of the section on the historic episcopate. "If we can't resolve this question we might have to go our separate ways," he was quoted as saying in an Associated Press report.

Criticism on the role of episcopacy as written in the first draft came from Presbyterians, who felt the historic episcopate did not allow room for "presbyteries," decision-making bodies within the Presbyterian Church composed of clergy and lay elders that function somewhat as bishops do in the Episcopal Church.

The 16-page document about CUIC describes nine "visible marks" including: mutual recognition of each other as authentic expression of the one church of Jesus Christ; mutual recognition of members in one baptism; mutual recognition of ordained ministry; mutual recognition that each affirms the apostolic faith of scripture and tradition in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds; provision for the celebration of the Eucharist together regularly; regular engagement together in mission, especially shared mission to combat racism; commitment to oppose exclusion in church and society based on "such things as race, age, gender, forms of disability, sexual orientation, and class"; ongoing process of theological dialogue; appropriate structure of accountability and means for consultation and decision-making (flexible and adaptable to local circumstances).

The Rev. Canon David Perry, director of the ecumenical office at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City, said that in the months before General Convention, his office will be working with other parties of the COCU executive committee to schedule a series of meetings to address the issues of governance and episcopal oversight. Canon Perry hopes that, in addition to member churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Reformed Church in America (with whom the ELCA has an established relationship) and the Roman Catholic Church will be part of the ongoing conversations. "The dynamics are very important for us, especially with the Lutherans," he said.

"The plenary was close to agreement on a number of issues," Canon Perry said. "A very good sign was the clear statement for unity." He said that the plenary's anti-racism statement is consistent with the General Convention's and Executive Council's calls to work together.