11 July 2007
Methodist Conference debates Covenant challenges
Today, the annual Methodist Conference has received the
second report from the Joint Implementation Commission (JIC). The
JIC monitors and promotes the implementation of the
Anglican-Methodist Covenant which was signed in November 2003
between the Methodist Church and the Church of England.
The report, entitled 'Living God's Covenant', records some
encouragements and some disappointments and looks forward both
realistically and hopefully.
There are many ways in which the Covenant is being lived-out at a
grass-roots level, with much sharing in mission and ministry by
members of both churches. Ten regional workshops that were held
during 2006 involved around 600 people and offered a useful picture
of attitudes to the Covenant and the capacity of the two churches
to engage in mission.
Revd Peter Sulston, Coordinating Secretary for Unity in Mission for
the Methodist Church and co-convenor of the JIC, says 'This report
is very encouraging and there is clearly a lot of good work going
on, with Anglicans and Methodists sharing in worship and mission,
caring for each other and serving their communities. But there is
still much more to be done. The passion for mission and evangelism
expressed by both churches is a powerful driver for covenant
living. We hope the recommendations of this report will strengthen
that commitment and help us to make the most of the gifts and
resources of our two churches.'
'Living God's Covenant' also draws attention to areas where more
work needs to be done to achieve unity, such as increasing an
awareness of the Covenant and encouraging ownership of joint
initiatives in local settings. While much work remains to be done
it encourages both churches to do more to use existing
opportunities to share in ministry and in mission and evangelism in
every part of both churches.
The report also suggests that The Methodist Church and the Church
of England should consult together on the shape of a reformed House
of Lords and consider making a joint submission to the
Government.
A further report in 2008 will seek to say more about the concrete
form that the unity the churches seek might take.