‘Significant steps’ needed to progress Anglican-Methodist Covenant

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with thePresident and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, havetoday issued a joint statement to their Churches.

The Most Revd Justin Welby, the Most Revd John Sentamu, the RevdRuth Gee and Dr Daleep Mukarji have issued the statement inresponse to a report that will be debated by the MethodistConference and General Synod this year.

The report, entitled The Challenge of the Covenant, recommends that both Churchestake action to enhance unity between them, with the work beingfully embedded in Church structures. The report also encourages theChurch of England to address the question of interchangeability ofordained ministries between the two Churches, and the MethodistChurch to consider the possibility of a form of episcopal ministry(such as a 'president bishop').

The statement from the Archbishops and Methodist Presidencywelcomes the report, stating that:
"The time has now come for our churches to take further,significant steps to achieve that level of reconciliation betweenus and partnership in the gospel that will enhance our missiontogether in local communities and our shared witness to the wholeof society."

The full statement follows:

As we look ahead to important debates in the Methodist Conferenceand the General Synod on the future direction of the Covenantbetween our two churches, we affirm our commitment to the Covenantand give thanks for the many ways the Covenant is beneficial toboth our churches at all levels of church life and to our commonwork of service and witness. We welcome the final report of theJoint Implementation Commission (JIC) to the Methodist Conferenceand the General Synod entitled 'The Challenge of the Covenant'. Inpreparation for the debates, we encourage prayerful study of thisand of the Quinquennial Report published last September.

The Methodist Conference will consider the JIC report in earlyJuly, before the July sessions of the General Synod, at which themain business will be the final stage of the Bishops and Priests(Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure. The outcome of thisvote in the General Synod is immensely important to Methodists aswell as to Anglicans, and will have an impact on the futureoutworking of the Covenant.

Owing to the focus on and time needed for the women bishopslegislation in July, the expectation is that the General Synoddebate on the JIC Report will be in November. The debate and voteon the JIC Report in July at the Methodist Conference, the vote onwomen bishops in the General Synod and its debate on the JIC Reportin November will all be important building blocks for the nextstage of the Covenant journey.

We are grateful to the JIC for setting before our two churches aclear challenge. This is a moment for thankfulness as we reflect onthe journey already travelled since the Covenant was signed morethan ten years ago and for trust and boldness as we each consider,in our respective governing bodies, the challenge now set beforeus.

It is our shared conviction that the time has now come for ourchurches to take further, significant steps to achieve that levelof reconciliation between us and partnership in the gospel thatwill enhance our mission together in local communities and ourshared witness to the whole of society. Our Churches are called toproclaim the good news of God's kingdom and, in the words of JohnWesley, to 'spread scriptural holiness through the land'. Thiscalling includes the prophetic role of speaking out with and forthe poor and marginalised, and the common task of evangelism. Webelieve that we will grow in unity the more we fulfil this callingtogether.

May we hold faith with each other and be guided by the Holy Spirit,through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notes

1. The Anglican-Methodist Covenant was signed in November 2003.Find out more here.