The story of CUIC (Churches Uniting in Christ) begins on December 4, 1960 when Rev. Eugene Carson Blake, then the Stated Clerk of the United Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A, preached a sermon at Grace Cathedral at the invitation of Bishop James A. Pike of the Episcopal Church. This sermon proposed creating a united Protestant Church which would have been named the Church of Christ Uniting. Thus, COCU (the Consultation on Church Union) was created, and its effort continued for 40 years. Although the vision of Rev. Blake and Bishop Pike did not become reality, the central motivation for creating unity among Christians has remained alive and well in CUIC. Leaders of nine member communions met on January 20, 2002 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN to inaugurate CUIC as a successor to COCU. CUIC intends to “live into unity” rather than simply “consulting” about unity, and is committed to the elimination of racism as a barrier to unite within and among member communions.

In 2002, 11 Christian communions pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and combating racism through Church Uniting in Christ. In the midst of war, terrorism, disasters, economic collapse, strident political polarization, and increasing wealth disparity, these church bodies are deepening their relationships and extending their common life. They look forward to a greater public witness of reconciling the baptized and seeking unity with justice.

Networking Partners

CUIC has a working relationship with these organizations.