The Episcopal Church-Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Dialogue met virtually on Sept. 27-28. This was the second meeting this year, offering updates on the General Convention’s commendation for study of the Episcopal-Presbyterian Agreement on Local Sharing of Ministries produced by the dialogue in 2019 and 2020. The agreement is available online here.

The dialogue received updates on fundraising to support rebuilding St. Andrew’s Kirk in Grenada after a 2004 hurricane. Dialogue staff compiled an ongoing list of shared local ministries in congregations, campus ministries, and diaconal activities throughout the United States. Dialogue members committed to prepare case studies of joint ministries for the February 2023 meeting hosted by The Episcopal Church. 

Proposals for unity with American Presbyterians were the first formal ecumenical efforts of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, beginning in 1886. A concordat for full reconciliation of ministries in 1939 was voted down in 1946. Another merger proposal in 1961 led to the formation of Churches Uniting in Christ in 2002.

The current Presbyterian-Episcopal bilateral dialogue was established in 2000 and began meeting in 2002. In 2009 the General Convention and the PCUSA General Assembly approved an agreement supporting mutual invitations to ministry in local church life with the approval of diocesan bishops and presbytery leaders.

A chart of Episcopal dioceses and PCUSA synods helps church leaders and members find their local geographic counterparts.