Margaret Parker, co-chair of the working party and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference, said to Ekklesia, "We found that some of those who responded said that their opinion on homosexuality had moved in one direction or another since 1993. This is an on-going process, but I am pleased to see that people are taking it seriously, and are keen on honest, constructive and frank dialogue, even with those whose opinions differ."
"This means more than just ‘agreeing to disagree’; it means finding ways to move forward as a Church, and to respect, love and encourage one another as fellow Christians even though we do not agree on everything."
Members of the working group of the 2005 report have hailed the success of the existing consultation method applied on this difficult issue - homosexuality, saying that it enables people with different opinions to listen to one another and therefore leads to a consensus that would represent the opinion of the Church as a whole.
Jonathan Kerry said so far the Church is moving forward on the topic. Even though the current method is not perfect, it is working well without any group feeling that its voice is not being heard.
The debate over homosexuality in the Anglican Church has caused a painful rift between conservatives and liberals who hold opposite viewpoints on the issue. Radical and emotional arguments have put the issue of homosexuality in the Church into deadlock.
For the Methodists, Ann Leck, co-chairman of the working party and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference emphasised, "It is people and their relationship with God that is at the heart of what we were exploring."
"The pilgrimage of the Methodist Church is about listening to one another and feeling listened to, about accepting and valuing one another and about trusting one another. Many people hold very strong views about the subject of sexuality: for some their views relate to the very being of themselves or of somebody they love. People are now beginning to share deep feelings and longings in an open way and there are affirming stories, sad stories and angry stories."
"The working party reflected the spread of views on sexuality that there is in Methodism as a whole, and it is I believe something to rejoice about that our Church embraces people with widely different views on these matters - that we are all one in Christ Jesus," she concluded.
To read the "Pilgrimage of Faith" report adopted at the 1993 Methodist Conference at Derby, please visit the Methodist Church website.
