16 March 2018
Scotland District Chairman explains significance of union model for Scottish Churches
The Chairman of the Scotland Methodist District, the RevJames Jones, has made the following comments upon the launchof the report of The Scottish Church Initiative for Union(SCIFU):
"The report sets out a framework for bringing together theMethodist Church in Scotland, the Episcopal Church, the UnitedReformed Church and the Church of Scotland. This is a remarkablecombination, including as it does both Episcopal and Presbyterianelements. It is notable that the Methodist tradition is able torelate in both directions.
"Whilst the report in itself is the final one of the group, thework involved is far from complete. Any detailed bringing togetherof four denominations will take several years in administrativeterms. The recommendations seek to confirm what has already beendrafted and to securing the participants' commitment to afurther period of detailed work. I anticipate that the reportwill go to the Scotland and Shetland Spring Synods forconsultation and to the Methodist Conference 2003 in Llandudno fora Connexional decision, since this is a Connexional process eventhough it embraces only the Scotland and Shetland Districts.
"In relation to the English Covenant, the Scotland proposals gomuch further than those at present being considered by the Englishprocess. They include a model of bishop in council with a timelimited tenure of office and the mutual recognition of ministriesacross the current Episcopal divide. In other words, the report isa very significant one for Scotland, with major implications forConnexional Methodism and for the Covenant process."