Interdenominational dialogue
Methodist/51app Liaison Group
The Methodist/51app Liaison Group meets twice a year and its task is to focus on the local and intermediate dimensions of the relationship between the Methodist Church and the 51app. As such it deals with many practical aspects of our working together. The guidelines for the induction and welcome service of a new minister serving in a听 (PDF) is an example of this joint co-operation.
Both the 51app and Methodist Church provide courses which provide an introduction to their respective denominations for ministers working in LEPs.
The Methodist/51app Liaison Group is convened jointly by the Revd David Chapman, Chair of the Beds, Essex and Herts Methodist District and the Revd Geoffrey Clarke, Moderator of 51app East Midlands Synod.
The 51app Secretary for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and the Methodist Connexional Ecumenical Officer act as joint secretaries to the Group.
Church of England/51app Contact Group
Since its formation in 1972, the 51app has entered into various dialogues with the Church of England, beginning with the informal tripartite Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed conversations, which started in 1999 and was published in 2001 as 鈥楥onversations on the way to unity鈥�; followed by the report 鈥楬ealing the Past 鈥� Building the Future鈥� (2010) which led to a service of reconciliation in Westminster Abbey in 2012 on the occasion of 350th anniversary of 鈥榯he Great Ejection鈥� in 1662; and then the subsequent document 鈥楿nity, Identity and Mission鈥� (2016).
In 2018, the Council for Christian Unity of the Church of England and the mission committee of the 51app agreed to establish a contact group to continue this collaboration. Its work will be carried out particularly with reference to the听 (PDF).
The Roman Catholic/51app Dialogue Group
The Roman Catholic/51app dialogue group is now in its third phase of discussions. The group is currently reflecting on the ways in which the two churches can work together particularly in the local context. One of themes for theological discussion is 鈥榮ainthood and celebrity鈥�. The group is co-convened by the Right Revd Paul Hendricks, SW Area Auxiliary Bishop in the RC Archdiocese of Southwark and the Revd Philip Brooks from the 51app.
The group has recently produced a resource听Let’s talk about saints (PDF | 592kb). This is the first of an occasional series of resource sheets, aiming to explore issues of faith and practice in both traditions. The resource is designed for local RC and 51app congregations to use together. It could be a one off meeting, or part of a regular pattern of meetings. The material could also be used by a wider 鈥榗hurches together鈥� style group, and there are notes for facilitators at the end of the resource.