Thursday 26th September 2002

The Covenant between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland represents a major step forward in understanding and fellowship between our two Churches. As Primate I greatly welcome this historic moment in the pilgrimage of two Irish Churches which have so much to share and to learn from each other. I pray that this document which is the result of much prayer and dialogue will lead to increased co-operation and genuine understanding between our Churches in the generations to come.

When this Covenant, which has been warmly welcomed by the General Synod and the Methodist Conference, is signed by the Primate of all Ireland and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland we will be making a statement of immense importance and we will be sharing a vision.

In the first instance we are making a full acknowledgement of each other’s Church and accepting that we share ‘the Faith once delivered’ and expressed in the historic Creeds. Secondly, we commit ourselves to a road of prayer, discussion and co-operation that under God will lead us to that unity which is His will. Today is a vital step on that road. We cannot predict the end of that journey but we go forward in love and partnership looking unto the Spirit of the living Christ for the signs of unity which await us. Today we acknowledge past hurt and misunderstandings as we pray that God will bless what we are and guide what we will become.

May the God and Father of us all bless what we are doing and guide us as we walk together in truth and love. Perhaps at a moment like this we can be forgiven if like John Wesley ‘our hearts are strangely warm.’