Covenant Council urges congregations to celebrate the Covenant’s anniversary
The Covenant Council today put a resolution to Synod asking it to encourage all congregations to take part in the joint celebration of the Covenant relationship. Occurring on, or around, the anniversary of the signing of the Covenant on the 26th September, this celebration will provide an excellent opportunity for local Methodist and Church of Ireland congregations to worship and commemorate together. Material for the event will be made available by the Council and the development of a website is being considered. Proposing the report to the Synod today, the Revd Nigel Dunne (Cork) urged the clergy to make a special effort to take part in these celebrations.
Seconding the report, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott (Dromore) emphasized that the interchangeability of ministries remains the “key theological sticking point”. This was a major topic of discussion of the Council during the year, and was raised at the meeting with the Primate and the President in an overnight session in September. Recognising that there are steps that need to be taken in the interim, the Council makes the following suggestions: that observers from each Church have full membership at both the General Synod and the Conference, with the right to speak and to vote; that Methodist ministers be enabled, in certain circumstances, to administer Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer; that the Church of Ireland embark on some serious study regarding the role of the episcopacy in the twenty-first century; and that the Methodist Church consider legislating to allow a Church of Ireland priest to serve on a Methodist Circuit.
These suggestions would, of course, require the approval of General Synod and discussions are ongoing.
Regarding the use of Local Covenant Partnership guidelines, Revd Dunne emphasized the need for a proper legal framework in this area. The Council feels that the use of a temporary or informal set of guidelines for use in joint projects would be most appropriate until such time as the Church of Ireland can develop the relevant ecumenical canons.
The Bishop of Down and Dromore suggested that Standing Committee take the opportunity to seriously review the technicalities involved in the development of ecumenical canons before proposals are brought to Synod. The Primate put this suggestion formally to the House and it was agreed.