Black Methodist Groups Explore Possible Merger
Two historically black Methodist denominations are moving forward with a proposal to merge.
Representatives from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion and the Christian Methodist Episcopal churches have formed study groups to review the potential effect of a merger on issues ranging from clergy standards to worship.
If the top legislative bodies of each denomination approve the merger, a Christian Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with more than 2 million members could be created by 2004. The plan of union must be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the annual conferences of the two denominations.
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