The first ever ecumenical report for the Anglican-Methodist Covenant signed between the Church of England and the Methodist Church of Great Britain is to be presented on the Methodist Conference 2005 by the end of June.
Prepared by the Joint Implementation Commission (JIC), which is made up of six Anglicans, six Methodists and a participant observer from the United Reformed Church (URC) since 2003, this first interim report mainly focuses on the scriptural and theological reflections on the meaning of Covenant. It then moves on to explore possible practical ways forward, according to a press release from the Methodist Church of Great Britain today.
The report at this stage aims to stimulate discussion and debate in both churches regarding the Covenant, as well as to reinforce the local partnerships that already exist. JIC will continue to take the responses from the churches and is expected to draw another report in 2007-8.
The Co-Chairs of the JIC have warmly welcomed the publication of the first report which has symbolised the ecumenical work in progress within the two churches. They hope that the document will "provoke wide discussion in both churches and with their ecumenical partners".
The Revd Prebendary Dr Paul Avis, Anglican Co- Convenor of the JIC, complimented the report, "the JIC has covered quite a lot of ground in a short time. The excellent working relationships between the members of the group have been a model of what the Covenant is meant to achieve."
The JIC report acknowledges that, despite their historic shared roots, the custom and practice of the two churches has developed in different ways. One very obvious difference is the use of bread and wine in communion services, which is to be addressed in the report. The attitudes of the two churches to lay people presiding at communion services; the factors that would enable those ordained by one church to be fully interchangeable with those from the other, are the other two main areas covered by the report.
Once again, rather than suggesting specific resolutions to these issues, the report will help frame the debate so that members from both churches can understand and respond to them, according to the press release.
An additional issue is the geography of the two churches: Methodist circuits and districts rarely match up with Anglican deaneries and dioceses, and additionally the Methodist Church covers Wales and Scotland as well as England.
