Pan-Methodist commission urges 'full communion'
A UMNS Report
By Linda Green*
Nov. 27, 2007
Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett
|
Members of the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union want to
affirm their Wesleyan heritage and mutual covenant as churches in full
communion with one another.
The commission adopted a resolution to that effect during its Nov. 15-17
meeting in Chicago. The body includes representatives of The United
Methodist Church and three historic African-American Methodist churches —
the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and
Christian Methodist Episcopal.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett, who chairs
the commission, said the resolution reflects uncertainty about whether
commission members are in full communion with one another.
Full communion, Jarrett explained, means that each of the Methodist
bodies recognize and accept their common connection with Wesleyan
tradition, recognize and honor various orders of ministry, agree on the
basic tenets and doctrines, and acknowledge that there are ministries
"we are fully called to and obligated to share in."
"We are one people, yet diverse, yet one," he said.
In the resolution, the commission:
- Understands its churches have a doctrinal compatibility with
Scripture as the foundation for all its beliefs, the historic creeds of
the church, and the Wesleyan standards including the Articles of
Religion, the Standard Sermons of John Wesley, his Explanatory Notes on
the New Testament, and affirms the General Rules of Methodism;
- Affirms that each pan-Methodist church is in full Eucharistic fellowship with the others;
- Affirms that, by disciplinary action, its church
ordinations are accepted as valid and in historic connection to John
Wesley. Thus, ordained ministers are interchangeable upon approval by
the bishops of the clergy involved and in compliance with denominational
educational standards; and
- Affirms that its churches are partners in mission and will
work together at all levels and through cooperation and collaboration to
share a common witness to Jesus Christ and the mission of making
disciples for the transformation of the world.
"This resolution would remove all doubts," Jarrett said, adding that
the commission is both enthused about and committed to the statements.
"All the implications are things that we already subscribe to, celebrate
and are involved in. The resolution codified what we have already been
doing in so many instances."
A framework of understanding
The Rev. Larry Pickens
|
According to the Rev. Larry Pickens, top executive of the United
Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, the
resolution is a framework of understanding among the churches.
"Being in full communion gives a visible sign to our unity in the
Pan-Methodist Commission," he said. "As we further clarify our ongoing
relationship and the ways we can cooperate together, full communion is
an indication that we are committed to unity as we state and demonstrate
our mutual respect for each other."
To take effect, the resolution must be affirmed by the 2008 general
conferences of The United Methodist Church, the African Methodist
Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and
the 2010 meeting of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Two other churches, the African Union Methodist Protestant Church and
the Union American Methodist Episcopal, were earlier approved as new
members of the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union. The
2008 and 2010 general conferences are expected to approve the full
membership of these two churches into the commission.
New name
The general conferences also will vote on a proposal to change the
name of the commission to the Pan-Methodist Commission. The proposal
stems from conversation among Methodist bishops last March about the
lack of clarity about the word "union."
"We could never arrive at a clear definition, and the Methodist bishops
felt that we should call selves the Pan-Methodist Commission and
continue doing what we do and remain committed to the areas we are
engaged in," Jarrett said.
The commission, he said, "need no longer wrestle with what union means
but remain united in our work. We do not know what union will look like,
but we will know it when we are there."
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
The United Methodist Church |