29 June 2010
Archbishop of Canterbury says Church of England could take more risks in its Covenant relationship with the Methodist Church
Addressing the annual Methodist Conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said he wanted to see the Church of England and Methodist communities growing much closer together.
In a 40-minute address to the Conference in Portsmouth's
Guildhall, the Archbishop contrasted the roles of the apostles
Peter and Paul in the Church, and what the contemporary Church
could learn from them.
In a further 40-minute session, the Archbishop took a wide range
of questions. Dr Williams was asked what risks the Church of
England was taking in relation to the Covenant with the Methodist
Church.
"The answer is not a lot," Dr Williams replied. "We are being
invited, in the short to middle term, to work out flexibility on
models of 'dual nationality'; that is, how two communities with two
different histories can develop some genuine overlapping
life."
Dr Williams also answered a question as to whether a Covenant
relationship between Anglicans and Methodists was exclusive. "A
covenant ought to be a friendship written down," he said. "It
doesn't mean there are no other friendships. If it becomes us
against them; a little friendship against the world, well, God help
us really."
"Any act of reconciliation has to be mutual; Anglican clergy at
every level accepting the ministry of those they are being
reconciled with."
The Methodist Church and the Church of England are in a covenant
relationship. On 1 November 2003, the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York and the General Secretary of the General Synod, together with
the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Methodist
Conference signed the Covenant at Methodist Central Hall,
Westminster, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. The Covenant
puts the two Churches on a path of ever-deepening relationships,
mutual trust and co-operation on the road to a richer unity.