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Formula of Agreement

Since February 2000, Broadway United Church of Christ and Advent Lutheran Church have convenanted together in recognition of the Formula of Agreement. This covenant means that we will share worshipping space, faith, and ministerial responsibility to the community on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For information about Advent Lutheran Church, vist their website at www.adventnyc.org.

The Formula of Agreement states

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 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 entereing into or affirming full communion with three other churches.

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 inappropritae 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 others' 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.