| In an historic move, the Methodist Church in Great | | | | Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is due |
| Britain “is on its way to rejoining the Church of | | | | to address the Methodist Conference in June, while |
| England…” The “Telegraph” newspaper | | | | reports on the Covenant process will be made to both |
| report from the United Kingdom by Martin Beckford | | | | national assemblies next year. |
| goes on to say, “The head of the non-conformist | | | | But formal progress between merging the |
| denomination said it was ready to come back to the | | | | denominations is unlikely to take place until women |
| national church after 200 years apart, if it would help | | | | bishops are introduced to the Church of England, in |
| spread the word of God.” | | | | 2014 at the earliest. |
| The paper’s report continues: | | | | The English Anglican Church hopes to continue the |
| The Rev David Gamble, president of the Methodist | | | | process with success. One Bishop is quoted: “We |
| Conference, told General Synod, the Church of | | | | need to be very cautious with the institutional process. |
| England’s governing body on Thursday: "We are | | | | It’s vital that we don’t fail because we can’t |
| prepared to go out of existence not because we are | | | | afford to fail again.” |
| declining or failing in mission, but for the sake of mission. | | | | He said the Methodist church's decision was |
| "In other words, we are prepared to be changed and | | | | consistent with its "radical commitment" to the Christian |
| even to cease having a separate existence as a | | | | mission. |
| Church if that will serve the needs of the Kingdom." | | | | Interestingly, the Episcopalians believe, as an Episcopal |
| In the United States, and specifically as well in | | | | Priest says, "...in 'con-substantiation,' the presence of |
| California’s San Francisco Bay Area, The Episcopal | | | | Christ with the elements. Very close to, if not aligned |
| Church USA is in Communion with the Evangelical | | | | with the Lutheran teaching." They remain in |
| Lutheran Church of America. This means Lutherans | | | | Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in |
| may take Communion at Episcopal churches, as may | | | | America who defines Communion and its ceremony |
| Episcopalians freely take Communion in Lutheran | | | | of Eucharist in this manner: |
| churches. | | | | Lutherans use the term "sacrament" to describe two |
| At the Church this writer attends, who may take | | | | parts of Christian life and worship where an earthly |
| Communion is a controversial topic. Church of Our | | | | element or sign is linked with God’s promise and |
| Saviour (Episcopal), Mill Valley, California, located north | | | | Christ’s directive. The New Testament tells us that |
| of San Francisco debated the subject and decided | | | | Jesus Christ commanded Baptism and Holy |
| they would publish a statement in their Sunday bulletin, | | | | Communion. For Lutherans, these are rituals of worship |
| every Sunday. It says, “everybody…” is | | | | but each also shapes broader understanding and daily |
| welcome at God’s table, but reminds the visitor that | | | | living. |
| instruction for Baptism is readily available and freely | | | | In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, after hearing |
| offered. Controversial a statement as this may be, no | | | | and experiencing the good news of Jesus Christ in |
| one at most Churches finds themselves | | | | word, prayer and song, the community receives bread |
| “carded” when coming for Communion. | | | | and wine. They experience the tangible presence of |
| (Carded means asked for proof of Church | | | | Christ by eating and drinking these elements. |
| membership, or of Baptism. The Episcopal rule is one | | | | The outward signs of the sacrament are simple |
| must be Baptized to receive Communion, by the way.) | | | | earthly elements: bread and wine. Yet, together with |
| Roman Catholic Communion services require a visitor | | | | the spoken promise of God these elements convey |
| be a Roman Catholic to receive Communion, which | | | | the presence of Jesus Christ to the assembly of |
| annoys many people as many resent the | | | | believers. Martin Luther said that Jesus is present |
| “closed” and what some call exclusive and | | | | “in, with, and under” the bread and wine. We |
| special nature of the Roman Catholic Church and its | | | | believe this because Jesus says it is so (Matthew |
| membership—even in this post Vatican II era it is so. | | | | 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20) even when |
| Of course, a blessing is offered by Roman Catholics | | | | we cannot fully explain how it happens. |
| to those visitors who attend Mass and are not Roman | | | | The “Christian Post” (Lillian Kwon) reports |
| Catholic. This is a good thing. Other Churches, like the | | | | Methodists in the United States are now in full |
| Episcopalians, do so, too. They offer a blessing to the | | | | Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of |
| unbaptized, the real Church policy of The Episcopal | | | | America: “The new relationship between the two |
| Church USA, and of course within the Anglican | | | | major Protestant denominations is not a merger but a |
| Communion. | | | | recognition of each other's ministry and mission. Full |
| Apparently, British Methodists will be in Communion | | | | communion recognizes that each church has "the one, |
| with the Anglican Church in England, and this | | | | holy, catholic and apostolic faith" expressed in the |
| significantly also means there is a special and Church | | | | Scriptures and confessed in historic creeds and the |
| recognized bond in Christ between the two Churches, | | | | core teachings of each denomination.” |
| just as that special bond occurs between the | | | | Christianity in America is changing. |
| Lutherans and Episcopalians in the United States and | | | | |
| specifically San Francisco’s Bay Area. Parishioners | | | | |
| at the Mill Valley Church of Our Saviour like this | | | | |
| situation, as it makes Christians closer in Christ. | | | | |
| Though this planned merger of the Methodists with | | | | Images: (1) Church of Our Saviour (Episcopal), Mill |
| The Church of England is not completed, the intention | | | | Valley, California—San Francisco Bay Area. Photo: |
| is real. The “Telegraph” continues: | | | | Rick White. (2) Communion table, Anglican. (3) |
| It is believed Methodists have now recovered from | | | | Sculpture by Jonathan Clarke of "Christ Blessing the |
| (a) hurt…caused (in 1972 over women priests), there | | | | Children". (4) Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical |
| are fewer grounds on which traditionalists in the | | | | Lutheran Church in America (left) and United Methodist |
| Church of England can object to unity as it introduced | | | | Bishop William Oden sing a hymn during April 29 |
| female priests in 1994 and is likely to have women | | | | morning worship at the 2008 United Methodist General |
| bishops by 2014. | | | | Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo: UMNS / Mike |
| Thursday’s address by Mr Gamble was the first | | | | DuBose. |
| by a Methodist President to Synod since 1993. The | | | | |