The Death of Methodism? Not Quite

The Guardian ^ | 2/15/10 | Karen Burke

[marshmallow]

The Methodist Church might change, or even merge with the CofE. But Methodists don't need an insitution to be who they are

Rumour has it that the Reverend David Gamble, president of the Methodist Conference, woke up a sleepy General Synod last Thursday morning by committing the Methodist Church to death by self-immolation. The alleged death-tolling line was made right at the end of a half-an-hour Synod address during which Gamble and vice-president Dr Richard Vautrey affirmed the Methodist Church's loyalty to the covenant it shares with the Church of England.

"We are prepared to go out of existence not because we are failing in mission, but for the sake of mission", David said. "In other words, we are prepared to be changed and even to cease having a separate existence as a church if that will serve the needs of the Kingdom."

The press picked up on this as if it were a bolt from the blue: Methodists falling on their sword, offering their church on a plate to be swallowed by the officially established church. In fact, what David expressed was the longer view of the Anglican-Methodist covenant signed seven years ago; a vision that was conceived in formal talks between the two churches back in 1969.

There has even been some murmuring that the Church of England would feel less sore about losing a number of Anglo-Catholics following the consecration of women bishops if it could get its hands on the £94m Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. But that misses the challenging invitation at the end of the address: are both churches prepared to be changed in order to become more effective in mission with its partner churches?

The sixth and final commitment of the covenant, is a desire for a shared communal, collegial and personal oversight,................

[marshmallow]

If Methodism wants to survive, it ought to back right away from the vortex which is presently pulling the C of E down into the abyss.

[RnMomof7]

Ping

[Nosterrex]

Judging from my days while studying theology in England, I would say that there is not much spiritual life in either denomination. I personally know of many Anglican priests that deny the divinity of Christ and his atonement. I was told that anyone that believed that Jesus died on the Cross as the sacrifice for our sins was teaching a slaughter house religion. I sat in class with many Anglican and Methodist clergy that denied all the essential teachings of Christianity. This is what passes as Christianity in England.

[kalee]

Anglican ping

[omega4412]

This sounds like the religious equivalent of merging with Enron just before its collapse.

[xzins]

This is the British Methodist Church. There are no legal ties whatsoever between American and British Methodism, so there’s really no impact if the British Methodists take this step.

I feel sorry for them. This is no time to get in step with an Anglicanism in turmoil over the ECUSA.