THE UNITAS FRATRUM MEETING OF THE UNITY BOARD SOUTH AFRICA, MARCH 11-18, 2005

TOWARDS A COMMON AFFIRMATION OF THE ROLE AND MEANING OF THE UNITAS FRATRUM AND THE UNITY BOARD

Introduction
The Unity Board meeting in South Africa deliberated extensively on the question of the meaning of the Moravian Unity and the role that the Unity Board was being called upon to play today. In our deliberation we reaffirmed the following, as already stated in the Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum (COUF).

Affirmations
1. The Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) understands itself as a single Church, “an international unity” [COUF 2002, Introduction, (p. 11)], which was first established in Bohemia in 1457 and was renewed in Germany in 1722.

2. Official statements concerning the constitution, doctrine, life and ministry of the Unitas Fratrum as a whole are decided by the Unity Synod, which is “the constitutional body representing the Unitas Fratrum.” [COUF 2002, # 250 (p. 37)]

3. The Church is organized into Unity Provinces, Affiliated Provinces, Mission Provinces and Mission Areas, the constitutions of which are developed in line with the Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum. [COUF #200-#202]

4. Each Province of the Unity has a legal status under the laws of the particular country in which it is located. The Unitas Fratrum as a whole is incorporated in Germany as the General Directory, and has its registered office at Herrnhut. The administrative office of the UF is currently located at 5 Muswell Hill, London N10, 3TJ.

5. The Unitas Fratrum fulfills its calling to serve the Lord Jesus Christ through its ministry in the Provinces, the Unity Undertakings and the Moravian Church Foundation.

6. By their equal share in the common faith and tradition of the Unitas Fratrum [COUF #202 (p. 29)], and through their common assent to the Constitution of the Unitas Fratrum, the Provinces are able to exercise a ministry of mutual oversight and accountability.

7. The Unitas Fratrum observes a three-fold order of ordained ministry (Deacons, Presbyters, Bishops), in which the ordained minister is authorized to preside in the celebration of the sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism [COUF #682]. As the only order of having the right to ordain or consecrate to the various orders of ministry [COUF #688], the office of Bishop is a symbol of the unity of the Church.

8. Under the Constitution of the Unitas Fratrum Provinces, the Provincial Board of the Unity Provinces that are governed by a Synod have the right to name one of its members to sit on the Unity Board as a voting member. The Superintendents of the Affiliated Provinces attend meetings of the Unity Board but have no vote.

9. By representing all the Provinces of the Unitas Fratrum, and by the constitution of the Unitas Fratrum, the Unity Board administers the ministry of guidance and accountability in the Unitas Fratrum [COUF, #203 (p. 29)] and is the highest decision-making body of the Church during the inter-Synodal period

10. As it relates to the decisions of the Unity Synod and the life of the Unitas Fratrum, the Unity Board is authorized by the Unity Synod:
(a) To act for and on behalf of the Unitas Fratrum as a whole and of the Unity Synod in particular [COUF # 253 (e), (f), (j), (n)]
(b) to alter resolutions of the Synod that do not have a bearing on the constitution of the Unitas Fratrum [COUF #245 (b)]
(c) to authorize, upon the request of a Provincial Board, exceptions from decisions of the Unity Synod [COUF #353 (g)]
(d) to be the final court of appeal for the Unitas Fratrum during the inter-Synodal period. [COUF #245, #353 (m)].

The Unity Board felt that the Provinces should deliberate on these affirmations in light of the emerging demands within the Unity, to see the extent to which they satisfy our perception of the role and meaning of the Unity. In particular, the Provinces are asked to consider whether the regard we have for the Unitas Fratrum as a single Church has any implication for:

(a) representation at Unity Synod and the Unity Board by membership on a per capita basis
(b) contribution to the general Unity Fund or specific funds
(c) the naming of a general secretary and the setting up of a permanent secretariat for the Unity.

The Unity Board has set up a committee to facilitate this discussion and to report to the next meeting of the Unity Board. We welcome the comments from the Unity on these affirmations and questions.

Robert E. Sawyer
President, Unity Board