Each communion will bring a delegation that includes its head of communion, ecumenical officer, and representatives to the three CUIC task forces: local and regional, ministry, and racial justice.

The purpose of the plenary meeting is to rekindle and refocus the CUIC relationship and to identify how the member churches will go into the future, according to a CUIC news release. Each task force will make a presentation, and much time will be spent in small group dialogue.

"This is important work," the Rev. Dr. Suzanne Webb, CUIC president, said in the release. "It will be done as we worship and pray, as we gather around the tables for conversation and food, as we encounter one another in the hallways of the hotel, and as we listen to the challenges of others. Hopefully, we are ready for a creative and forward-looking time."

The event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel St. Louis City Center.

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, will give the opening address on January 11. Dr. Rodney Sadler, assistant professor of Bible at Union-Presbyterian School for Christian Education (http://www.union-psce.edu/) in Charlotte, North Carolina, will lead the delegates in Bible study several times each day.

To honor one hallmark of the CUIC relationship -- the "provision for celebration of the Eucharist together with intentional regularity" -- the delegates will participate in daily Eucharist, according to the release. The preacher and the chief celebrant in each service will be the heads of communion.

The opening Eucharist service on January 11 will be hosted by Lane Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis. The chief celebrant for this service will be Bishop William Graves, senior bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME). The preacher will be Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr. presiding bishop of the Third Episcopal District of the CME Church, which includes St. Louis. Others participating in the service will be Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, presiding bishop of the Tenth Episcopal District, and Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham, presiding bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District and the CME ecumenical officer.

The January 12 Eucharist will follow the Reformed tradition. The Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ will be the preacher, and the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church USA, and the Rev. Michael Livingston, executive director of the International Council of Community Churches, will be co-celebrants.

On January 13, the Eucharist will follow the Methodist tradition. The chief celebrant will be the Rev. Dr. William Oden, ecumenical officer of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Council of Bishops, and the Rev. Dr. Timothy James, associate general minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be the preacher.

Jefferts Schori will be the chief celebrant at the January 14 Eucharist, which will follow the Anglican tradition. The Rev. David Wickmann, president of the Provincial Elders Conference of the Moravian Church Northern Province, will be the preacher.

CUIC member communions include African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church, International Council of Community Churches, Moravian Church (Northern Province), Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church, according to the CUIC release. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a Partner in Mission and Dialogue, and the Roman Catholic Church is an official observer.