Historic PCCNA – USCCB Dialogue
The PCCNA (Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of North America) – USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) exploratory dialogue concluded with the 2023 session hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The first hosts were USCCB in Washington DC (2021) then Oral Roberts University (2022). Papers from the three years along with articles by the Rev. Dr. Walter Kedjierski and Rev. Dr. Harold D. Hunter explaining how this dialogue came into existence will be published by ORU’s Spiritus in the Fall of 2024. Members of the PCCNA team were as follows:
- Rev. Dr. Harold D. Hunter, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, chair.
- Rev. Dr. Frederic Ware, Church of God in Christ, 2021–2023, paper read 2021.
- Rev. Dr. David Han, Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 2021–2023, paper read 2022.
- Rev. Dr. Martin Mittelstadt, Assemblies of God, 2021–2023, paper read 2023.
- Rev. Dr. Tammy Dunahoo, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, 2021–2022.
- Rev. Jennifer Thigpen, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, 2023.
Late in 2023, both PCCNA and USCCB endorsed an official bilateral and every member of both teams has an ecclesial endorsement. Dr. Hunter reported directly to the PCCNA executive committee during the February 2024 PCCNA conference in Montgomery, AL. The PCCNA – USCCB Dialogue quinquennial theme is “Waters that Unite: Waters that Divide”. The 2025 session hosted by USCCB will focus on the Season of Creation . The 2026 session hosted by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Azusa St. Revival.
Thanks to an invitation from the Rev. Dr. David Han, the first session in this historic bilateral will be hosted by the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. A summary written by Dr. Kimberly Belcher (UUSCCB) and Rev. Dr. Harold Hunter (PCCNA) for the 2024 theme follows below. New ground will be broken with an actual foot washing service led by Rev. Dr. David Han. The Pentecostal paper will be read by Rev. Dr. Christopher Thomas, an expert on this subject.
The historic USCCB – PCCNA Dialogue will first meet October 2 – 4, 2024, at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, in Cleveland, TN. Under the dialogue theme, “Waters that Unite: Waters that Divide,” this initial session will look at the example of Jesus in John 13 where he washed his disciples’ feet. Although the method of practice varies between these traditions, there is common ground to be found. For Pentecostals, foot washing is a holy ordinance like that laid bare 30 years ago at the founding of PCCNA, known as the “Memphis Miracle”. For Catholics, it is a sign of charity that begins the Holy Triduum ("three days") that remembers Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. For both, it serves as a call to the mutual love and service Jesus asks of his followers.
The PCCNA team will remain unchanged at the start of the formal bilateral. The USCCB team will be led by Bishop Peter Smith. Bishop Smith comes as a member of the USCCB Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Rev. Dr. Walter Kedjierski’ term as Executive Director at the USCCB Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs has come to an end. The next officer is Rev. Russell K. McDougall. Rev. McDougall has been serving as the Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem for Holy Cross at the University of Notre Dame.
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