Day 2
Covenant Council Prepares for Next Period of Shared Life
The Covenant relationship between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church is a vital expression of each tradition’s ongoing mission, members of General Synod heard today (Friday May 8).
Proposing the report of the Covenant Council, Canon Dr Maurice Elliott said its members recognised that the Covenant is in need of some new aspirations. Many of the early goals – interchangeability of ministries, participation in each other’s structures of governance and closer cooperation in theological training, among others – have been realised. Approaching the 25th anniversary of the signing, in 2003, of the Covenant, the council is keen to develop an update list of priorities for the next period of shared life, he stated.
“To that end, members will see a reference at the bottom of p.225 to the production of ‘a renewed common declaration’ which it is hoped can ‘shape our common life and mission …so that unity might be fully realised’. In due course these new goals will be proposed to both the General Synod and the Methodist Conference, and, as with the original Covenant, it would be our hope that a copy of this updated document might be displayed in every congregation as a means of keeping what the Covenant represents very much to the fore of our minds,” Dr Elliott said.
The council is confident that the Covenant can facilitate both permanent and short–term exchanges of ministry, he added. This covers those who may wish to move across to the sister tradition and those who may wish to organise local cover of duty.
Dr Elliott congratulated longstanding Covenant Council member and incoming Methodist President, the Revd Dr Janet Unsworth, on her election to serve on the Anglican–Methodist International Coordinating Committee (AMICC) which has been established to oversee dialogue between the two traditions at an international level.
In seconding the report, the Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, outlined work on revising the ‘Guidelines for the Journey’ booklet and plans to issue further guidance outlining the practicalities of ministerial interchangeability, particularly in the area of Safeguarding. He paid tribute to the Safeguarding officers of both Churches.
He emphasised the special relationship with the Methodist Church in Ireland. He said they continued to explore the possibilities of interchangeability of ministry. This work is regarded as pioneering by churches beyond this island and churches are looking at the Church of Ireland as an exemplar, he said. He added there was a rhythm of mutuality of ordination and of episcopal ministry.
That the following be elected as Church of Ireland Representatives on the Covenant Council for the coming year: the Rt Rev Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe (Co–Chair); Ms Elva Byrne; Rev Canon Dr Maurice Elliott; Ven Barry Forde; Rev Claire Kakuru; and Rev Martin Steele.