wfn.org | [ENS] Methodist, Episcopal bishops hold first-ever dialogue (Daybook)

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

October 14, 2005 - Friday Forum

Methodist, Episcopal bishops hold first-ever dialogue

By Thomas Ferguson

[Episcopal News Service] An historic meeting of United Methodist and
Episcopal bishops - the first between the two groups - convened in
Evanston, Illinois, October 3-5.

Both churches selected a group of 10-15 bishops, representing a
cross-section of each communion.  The purpose of the meeting was to get
the two churches talking about areas of common mission and common concern.
Bishop Ann Sherer, president of the United Methodist General Commission
on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concern, spoke of her "deep
appreciation for the opportunity to build relationships with Episcopal
colleagues" and that she "looked forward to deepening this relationship."

In the United States, United Methodists and Episcopalians have been
in a church-to-church dialogue since 2002.  Internationally, in 1996
the two global communions produced an important theological statement,
Sharing in the Apostolic Communion. Methodists and Anglicans have also
been in dialogue for over fifty years in Great Britain, and entered into
a 10-year covenantal relationship in 2002.

The two churches also talked about the charisms or gifts that each church
would offer to one another.  Bishop Suffragan Nedi Rivera of the Diocese
of Olympia particularly noted the way in which the Methodist Council
of Bishops demonstrated a corporate and connectional understanding
of episcopacy, noting "a sense of responsibility and connection to
one another."  She also emphasized that the United Methodist Council
of Bishops "clearly articulated how the episcopacy was connected to
mission and ministry."  United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer spoke of
the opportunity for United Methodists and Episcopalians to "reclaim our
common heritage" and that United Methodists could gain a "sense of the
historicity of episcope."

In addition to a discussion of what gifts each church saw in the
other, the group also talked about areas identified by the United
Methodist-Episcopal bilateral dialogue as needing further theological
attention.  These included questions of sacramental theology, the historic
episcopate, and hot-button issues such as human sexuality. There was
a consensus that these "hot-button" issues needed further discussion,
but were not necessarily church-dividing.  Bishop Frank Brookhart,
Episcopal co-chair of the dialogue, commented that he "found the recent
official United Methodist statements on Baptism, By Water and the Spirit,
and This Holy Mystery, particularly helpful" in the discussions.

The bishops' meeting was followed by the regular meeting of the United
Methodist-Episcopal bilateral dialogue, hosted by Seabury-Western and
Garrett Evangelical Seminary.  The team worked on producing a preliminary
draft of a study guide designed to summarize the work of the dialogue.
This study guide will help prepare bishops and deputies to discuss a
resolution on Interim Eucharistic Sharing, which the Standing Commission
on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations will be sending to the 2006
General Convention.

-- Thomas Ferguson is Associate Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith
Relations for the Episcopal Church.

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