ABSTRACT
This chapter explores one aspect of the experiences of united and uniting churches: finding common principles of church law that can support unification processes. It starts with a discussion on this family of churches itself. It presents some telling examples from inter-confessional unions. Diversity is key to these churches. After some observations about the relation between principles and process in church unification processes, it focusses on a case study of the unification process that gave birth to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. It concludes with observations on the value of the Statement of Principles of Christian Law (2016) for united and uniting churches. On the one hand, it shows how these principles reflect theological ideas elaborated in unification processes. On the other hand, it suggests that ecumenical theology can foster the elaboration of common principles of Christian law.
