Contents
 back to Letters |
 previous story
|
next story 
|
Unwanted gift: the episcopate and the Anglican-Methodist Covenant
From the Revd Geoffrey Squire Sir, — I note that the British Methodists have “dropped plans to consider having bishops”, as there was “no support for them among their membership” (News, 9 February). Where does that leave the Church of England-Methodist Covenant? Of course, full eucharistic unity is not possible unless and until Methodists have bishops in the episcopal succession (as well as episcopally ordained priests and deacons). The only alternative is that Methodists place themselves under the authority of those who are bishops already, presumably Anglican bishops, who alone thereafter ordain priests and deacons for the Methodists; but that is surely even more unlikely. That leaves us with a future where the realistic aim, at least for the present, is simply to be nice to each other and to talk about moving towards a greater organic unity that “may happen one day”. By the unilateral action of our small part of the Catholic Church in relation to female priests, and its moves towards female bishops, that is precisely what has happened with our unity conversations with the Roman Catholic Church and all the Orthodox Churches. What is the sum result of all this? The Church of England was once in the driving seat of the whole ecumenical movement, and was often seen as a “bridge” between the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and the Protestant denominations. It was also in so many ways seen as the key to a great unity-in-diversity of the future, as it was a unity-in-diversity in itself, but one that was held together with a univeral recognition of orders from within. Now, the Church of England is virtually outside the ecumenical movement altogether, unless, of course, the movement is seen as simply about “being nice to each other” and being a talking-shop about something that may possibly happen one day in the distant future. GEOFFREY SQUIRELittle Cross, Northleigh Hill Goodleigh, Barnstaple Devon EX32 7NR From Mr David Pepin Sir, — Like many, I have a foot in both camps, since I am a lifelong Anglican (baptised 70 years ago) and a Methodist local preacher (ten years) and circuit steward. I also serve on both deanery and district synods, and feel dismayed that there seems, generally speaking, to be almost no dialogue between Anglican deaneries and Methodist circuits — and between dioceses and districts, for that matter. As far as the people in our respective pews are concerned, there is a feeling that we can do little about “the Covenant”. It means different things to people. Few Anglicans have heard of the annual covenant service that the Methodists have, and the other Covenant that was signed — remind me, they say. It is encouraging to hear about Anglican-Methodist sharing of resources, fellowship in the gospel, Fresh Expressions, etc., in some places, but we could do better when it comes to big decisions, especially concerning Christian presence in rural areas. Different diocesan and district boundaries don’t help, but I would have thought it essential for Anglican bishops and chairs of districts, area deans, and their staffs to be having conversations about the possible way forward. DAVID PEPIN Old Meadow Barns Garrigill Road, Alston Cumbria CA9 3UE |
| back to Letters |
 back to top |
previous story
|
next story
|
