Work continues on implementing the Anglican Methodist Covenant

The Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) of the AnglicanMethodist Covenant has voiced its disappointment that the GeneralSynod has not found a way to move forward on the question of womenbishops. It added, however, that, although the vote in GeneralSynod on Tuesday failed to remove a major obstacle to growing intothat unity to which the Church of England and the MethodistChurchare committed in the Covenant between them, the basis of thatCovenant has not changed.

"There is much that still unites us and we will continue to worktowards the full visible unity of our churches," said the Rt RevChristopher Cocksworth and Prof Peter Howdle, who co-chair theJIC.

"The relationship between our churches has been growing at alllevels - national, regional and local - since the Covenant was madein 2003, with many examples of sharing and working togetherespecially at local level. The JIC is committed to helping ourchurches continue to grow together and to find new opportunitiesfor serving the common good under the Covenant.

"We hope that Methodists and Anglicans, bound together inCovenant and a common history, in the light of the General Synodvote, will continue to pray for each other, value each other'sspiritual heritage and work tirelessly with renewed determinationfor the unity of the whole Church."