Communique from the Anglican-Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission

From Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>
Date Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:07:12 -0800

Communique from the Anglican-Methodist
International Commission for Unity in Mission


Posted On : February 18, 2011 12:00 AM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/2/18/ACNS4798
Related Categories: ACO - Ecumenical


Third Annual Meeting, Cape Town, South Africa



11?17 February 2011


Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, the members
of the Anglican-Methodist International
Commission for Unity in Mission (AMICUM) could
not forget the courage, conviction and
determination of those who had fought against the
sin of apartheid and had then set about a process
of truth and reconciliation. On a visit to Robben
Island where the members heard a commentary by a
former political prisoner, the Commission was
left in no doubt of the need to be honest with
each other if the painful divisions that deny the
Gospel call to unity are to be overcome.

At this third meeting there was a much clearer
awareness of the need for the Commission to
identify and begin to tackle some of the issues
that are at the heart of our present
denominational divisions. These divisions and the
causes behind them are not always being named in our churches worldwide.

The Commission recognises that, if the goal of
fuller communion is to be realised, in the course
of the next two years significant work will need
to be undertaken on some specific areas. These
include issues relating to the interchangeability
of ordained ministries and the ministry of
oversight (episkope). Our hope is to find ways in
which, in every place, the churches of our two
world families may work as one in the urgent task of mission.

The Commission took careful note of the bilateral
conversations between our communions. These are
taking place in the United States, England,
Ireland, and New Zealand, and in Canada and
Australia between Anglicans and the united or
uniting churches. In listening to the experience
of two United Churches (Church of South
India/Church of North India) the Commission has
become more aware that questions of identity and
belonging to wider Christian fellowships require
ongoing attention. The Commission would welcome
hearing news of any other bilateral conversations.

The Commission is aware that Anglicans and

Methodists also speak and act together in many
places in the world in multi-lateral ecumenical
relationships. In the course of this meeting the
Commission paid particular attention to the work
of the Church Unity Commission in South Africa.
This included a visit from the Archbishop of Cape
Town, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, the Revd
Yvette Moses, vice-chair of the Cape District of
the Methodist Church, and other local church
leaders. On the Sunday members of the Commission
attended worship at the Parish of St Cyprian?s,
in the township of Langa. The Commission is very
grateful to the Anglican Church of Southern
Africa for much practical assistance during its stay.

The Commission will meet again in February 2012,
in Maryland, USA, hosted by the World Methodist Council.


Members of AMICUM are,



Methodists


The Revd Professor Robert Gribben (Australia) (Co-Chair)
Dr Elizabeth Amoah (Ghana)
Bishop Thomas L Hoyt Jr (USA)
The Revd Dr Wong Tik Wah (Malaysia)
The Revd Professor Sarah Lancaster (USA)
The Revd Gareth Powell (England) (Acting Co-Secretary)


Anglicans


The Rt Revd Harold Miller (Ireland) (Co-Chair)
The Revd Canon Professor Paul Avis (England)
The Very Revd Flavio Irala (Brazil) (not present at the meeting)
The Revd Garth Minott (Jamaica)
The Revd Canon Lulama Mtanjiswa Ntshingwa (Southern Africa)
The Rt Revd Dr P Surya Prakash (India)


Lutheran World Federation Observer
The Rt Revd Walter Jagucki (England)



Staff



The Revd Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan
(Co-Secretary) (Anglican Communion Office)
Mr Neil Vigers (Anglican Communion Office)