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A historic ecumenical dialogue between representatives of the Pentecostal/ Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) met on October 2–4, 2024, at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. Following a three-year exploratory dialogue, this meeting marked the first Pentecostal-Catholic dialogue in the United States endorsed by both ecclesial bodies. The meeting was co-chaired by Rev. Dr. Harold D. Hunter, International Pentecostal Holiness Church liaison to the Greater Christian Community and member of PCCNA Christian Unity Commission Steering Committee, and Bishop Peter L. Smith, Auxiliary Bishop of Portland, Oregon, who represents the USCCB’s Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
The theme of the first five-year phase of the dialogue is “Waters that Divide: Waters that Unite.” This year’s session focused on the example of Jesus in John 13 where he washed his disciples’ feet. After dialoguing about the role of footwashing in their respective traditions, both teams participated in a foot-washing service at the International Prayer Center of the North Cleveland Church of God. Participants agreed that footwashing signifies and enables believers to participate in Christ’s humility, hospitality, and call to reconciliation. Attention was drawn to the unscheduled foot-washing service at the 1994 founding of PCCNA, sometimes referred to as the "Memphis Miracle." Dr. Hunter noted that having started as an exploratory dialogue in 2021, this community has grown in their sensitivity to the presence of God as together we seek to edify the risen Christ.
Presenters of the scholarly works at the meeting were as follows:
- Rev. Dr. John Christopher Thomas, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Church of God (Cleveland), “Footwashing in the Pentecostal Tradition.”
- Rev. Andrew V. Menke, S.L.D., “A Brief Examination of the History of the Practice of Footwashing in the Catholic Church.”
The Pentecostal team members were:
Rev. Dr. Dale M. Coulter, Professor of Historical Theology, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Church of God (Cleveland) • Rev. Dr. David Han, Dean, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Church of God (Cleveland) • Rev. Dr. Martin Mittelstadt, Professor of New Testament, Evangel University, Assemblies of God • Rev. Jennifer Thigpenn, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel • Rev. Dr. Frederick L. Ware, Associate Dean, Howard University School of Divinity, Church of God in Christ.
The Catholic team members were:
Rev. Russell K. McDougall, C.S.C, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the USCCB • Rev. Andrew V. Menke, S.L.D., Executive Director, International Commission on English in the Liturgy • Dr. Kimberly Hope Belcher, Associate Professor (Liturgical Studies), Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame • Mr. Nathan Smith, Director of Ecumenism, Glenmary Home Missioners.
The observers of the dialogue, all from the Church of God (Cleveland), included:
Rev. Dr. Daniel Alvarez, Associate Professor of Theology, Pentecostal Theological Seminary • Dr. Skip Jenkins, Professor of Historical Theology, Lee University • Rev. Dr. Lisa Stephenson, Professor of Theology, Lee University • Rev. Dr. Dan Tomberlin, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
The Pentecostal Theological Seminary hosted the meeting. The attendees visited the Church of God International Headquarters and the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center at Squires Library. Rev. Dr. David Roebuck, the historian for the Church of God, guided both tours. Participants were also greeted by Dr. Mark L. Williams, Third Assistant General Overseer and Executive Liaison to the Church of God Christian Unity Committee, and by Dr. Brian Sutton, North America General Presbyter, Church of God of Prophecy and Member of the Executive Committee, PCCNA. The USCCB will host the next meeting on September 24–26, 2025.
The PCCNA represents 40 million Christians through its member denominations and organizations serving in Canada, the United States, and Mexico (www.pccna.org). The USCCB is the assembly of the hierarchy of Catholic bishops who jointly exercise pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands (www.usccb.org).
Media Contacts:
Barbara Grey, Executive Director
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Phone: (973) 592-3411
Email: office@pccna.org
www.pccna.org
Chieko Noguchi
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
(202) 541-3200
media-relations@usccb.org
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