The first Interim Report of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant has been published by the Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) and will be presented at the upcoming Methodist Conference and the General Synod of the Church of England this summer.
The report entitled "In the Spirit of The Covenant", which aims to lay down a framework of discussion and debate in both churches regarding the Covenant, has addressed three main areas concerning Church life - the bread and wine of Holy Communion, presidency at the Eucharist, and the interchangeability of ordained ministries between the two churches.
Radical changes for the traditions of the Holy Communion have been proposed by the report. While Methodists use individual cups during their communion services, the report suggest them to follow the Church of England use of a single chalice.
On the other hand, the Church of England should consider giving up the use of individual communion wafers, and adopt the Methodist way of using a single loaf of ordinary bread that would be broken after the Thanksgiving Prayer.
For the wine of the Holy Communion, both churches are to agree that only "the fruit of the vine" should be used. The tradition of the Church of England that requires communion wine to be alcoholic will not be changed, but Methodists would use non-alcoholic grape juice.
The report further describes the disposal of surplus consecrated elements as a "sensitive ecumenical issue". It commends for consideration in both churches that the sacred elements are consumed discreetly either after communion, or immediately after the service, by the minister and/or by others from the congregation.
About the presidency of the Eucharist, the English Church has retained the Roman Catholic practice of having a bishop or priest presiding at the Reformation. The Canon Law B 12.1 states unequivocally, "No person shall consecrate and administer the holy sacrament of the Lord’s Supper unless he shall have been ordained priest by Episcopal ordination."
In recent years, some writers, especially those from the evangelical wing, have questioned the position of the Church of England. They argued that both word and sacrament are places where God encounters people, while lay people who are properly trained are allowed to preach the Word, they should also be authorised to preside at the Holy Communion.
