wfn.org | Methodists, four other Scottish churches, considering union

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 21, 1998 Contact:Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71B{239}
  
Note: This story first appeared in the April 1 issue of the Methodist
Recorder, weekly newspaper of British Methodism.  Distributed with
permission by United Methodist News Service.

By Avril Bottoms*

Formal talks about union among five churches in Scotland, including the
Methodist Church, could be taking place by the year 2001.

A consultative paper offering suggestions for a united church in
Scotland is to be presented at the assemblies, synods and conferences of
the denominations this summer.  The hope is that it will be widely
studied as part of the process towards eventual full union.

The Scottish Church Initiative for Union involves the Church of
Scotland, Scottish Episcopal United Reformed, Congregational and
Methodist Churches with the United Free and Roman Catholic Churches as
observers.

Talks began in January 1996 and the interim report, made public late in
March, makes clear that, given the support or agreement of the churches,
the earliest dates at which specific plans could be presented formally
would be 2001 or 2002.

The chairman of the Methodist Synod in Scotland said he was pleased that
after more than 25 years of discussion there was now a situation in
which the five denominations had been able to produce an interim report.

"The interim report shows that significant ground has been covered and
significant changes made within churches which have allowed us to move
rather more quickly," he said.

The initiative group, says the report, wishes to challenge the churches
at all levels to become involved in the process of union.  But it makes
clear that every church would preserve as much as possible of its
traditions and diversity.  Wide varieties of practices would be
recognized and adaptability would be essential.

"Unity should not be confused with uniformity.  Our churches have a high
degree of unity in faith and doctrine.  While this does not require each
tradition to accept every doctrinal formulation or characteristic of the
distinctive traditions, it does require them to face and overcome the
remaining obstacles to close union," the report says.

 # # #
*Bottoms is a staff writer for the Methodist Recorder, weekly newspaper
of British Methodism.

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