New Guidebook Released to Foster United Methodist-Episcopal Unity
A study guide for United Methodist and Episcopal congregations to foster greater unity between the church bodies is now available to the public.
Supporters say "Make Us One with Christ: A Study Guide," drafted by the United Methodist-Episcopal dialogue team in consultation with scholars and leaders in both traditions, will be "immensely helpful" in the process of introducing the two congregations to each other and their heritages, according to the Episcopal Life Online.
Many participants commented on how useable the study guide would be for local congregations and other communities to help people in the pews with understanding how much each of the two churches have in common.
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Designed for congregational use and consisting of seven sessions, the study guide includes practical brainstorming sessions to identify common mission projects and concludes with a joint celebration of the Eucharist by the participating congregations.
"This study guide signals a breakthrough in Episcopal/United Methodist relations," said co-chair of the dialogue, Bishop Bill Oden, according to Episcopal Life Online. "Both communions have an opportunity to draw closer together around a common table and joint fellowship and mission through sharing in this study."
The United Methodists and Episcopalians have been in a church-to-church dialogue since 2002. In 2006, the Episcopal General Convention voted to enter into a relationship of Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church. Interim Eucharistic Sharing is a step on the way to full communion, where the two communions intentionally gather to share in the Eucharist while growing relationships and continuing to study important issues which need to be resolved before full communion can be reached.
Currently, the dialogue team continues to meet to explore how to reconcile the ordained ministries of the two churches.
The Episcopal Church's Office of Ecumenical Relations, meanwhile, is working with local United Methodist and Episcopal bishops to plan regional joint celebrations of the Eucharist and to encourage other congregations to pair up as well.
