From Mr Ken Wales
Sir, - As a Methodist, I was interested to read Peter Crumpler's
views on the withdrawal of the Methodist Church from the Eastern
Region Ministry Course (Letters, 14
June). This is a consequence of a decision reached by the
Methodist Church at its annual Conference in July 2012, which
received little pub- licity in your columns.
I am one of a substantial number in the Methodist Church who
regard those decisions as calamitous. Among their deleterious
effects, we fear that relationships between the ordained ministers
of the two Churches will have been set back a generation.
What has disappointed many of us is how negligible, at least
publicly, the Anglican response was before the decision and
afterwards. Of course, we cannot know what was said behind the
scenes.
All this is a long way from the aspirations of the Covenant's
Joint Implementation Committee in 2008 that future decisions about
theological training should be taken jointly. As he says, Mr
Crumpler has drawn attention to what is a very sad and regrettable
development.
There is still time for some adjustments to be made to the
Methodist Church's intentions, if the desire is there. But those
who care must speak up - now.
KEN WALES
2 Wentworth Place
Broughton
Preston PR35LQ