Question about Episcopal-Methodist relations

[AngCath]

The Episcopal Church, to which I belong is entering into a closer relationship with the United Methodist Church and I was wondering what Methodists think about it.

[svdbygrace]

I look foward to the day when the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church reach full Communion. :)

[markbelieves]

I look foward to the day when the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church reach full Communion. :)
Are we not already in full communion? As far as I know any believing Christian is welcome to participate in the Lord's Supper at our church and I believe the same is true in your church, no?

[AngCath]

being able to receive in eachother's parishes is not the same as full communion.

[silentpoet]

As a Nazarene I have great concern for some Episcopal churches departure from scripture with regards to homosexuality.

[Diane_Windsor]

We are already in full communion with all Christians under the headship of our Shepherd Christ Jesus.

AMEN!

[markbelieves]

being able to receive in eachother's parishes is not the same as full communion.

What does being in full communion entail?

[AngCath]

recognition of each other's Orders

[svdbygrace]

"Full Communion" is not the same thing as "Open Communion". :) The United Methodist Church observes Open Communion, as does the Episcopal Church. However we do not currently share clergy, ect. which means we are not in Full Communion with each other.

[seeking.IAM]

...we do not currently share clergy, ect. which means we are not in Full Communion with each other.

Yeah, but we're sharing congregants. I'm a UMC member/refugee worshiping in an Episcopal Church. :clap:

[Texas Lynn]

The closer, the better.

Plus: The Methodists can learn a lot from the episcopals about social justice.

Minus: The Episcopals' ritual is just as convoluted as the Catholics'.

[svdbygrace]

I would also like to add that we aren't that diffrent! :)

Methodists and Anglicans share the same tradition up until the late 1700's! :) In fact, we still share many things in common that are unique to our Anglican heritage.

When we currently share in the Eucharist at a Episcopal Church we sharing in Open Communion, when we share in the Eucharist in a Moravian Church, or AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church for example we are sharing in Full Communion.

The UMC is currently in Full Communion with:

> The African Methodist Episcopal Church
> The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
> The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
> The Moravian Church

The UMC is working closely with the following Church to eventually achieve Full Communion.

> The Episcopal Church (USA) ~ the UMC Bishops hope to reach Full Communion with them in 2012.

> The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ~ the UMC Bishops hope to reach Full Communion with them in 2008.

We currently have a "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" agreement with both these Churches. :)

[seeking.IAM]

The closer, the better.


Minus: The Episcopals' ritual is just as convoluted as the Catholics'.

Not that my Episcopal brothers need defending, but I find their ritual comforting and not at all convulted.

The nce thing is that you could be blindfolded and taken into the midst of their worship. When you, take off your blindfold you'd recognize that you were in Episcopal worship, and within 30 seconds would probably know that it was Rite I or Rite II.

I'd venture to say that in a UMC Church you might not correctly pick out what denom you were worshipping with, and it might look different next week than it did this. You might even think it was non-denom rather than Methodist. Some UMC's are even dropping the word "Methodist" from their name to try to get on the non-denom church growth bandwagon.

I differ with ECUSA over recent positions, but love the beauty and meaning of their ritual and liturgy.

[Groce]

While I long for the Methodist to come back to Anglicanism, there will be some issues to be resolved before this happens.

[Groce]

The closer, the better.

Plus: The Methodists can learn a lot from the episcopals about social justice.

Minus: The Episcopals' ritual is just as convoluted as the Catholics'.

I hope that you might not look toward the revisionist Episcopals as guides to social justice.

And ritual is not the right word, liturgy would be more correct. Its not reallt that complicated theres a book that tells you what the service order is.

[Texas Lynn]

I hope that you might not look toward the revisionist Episcopals as guides to social justice.

Depends on what you mean by revisionists I guess. When you get right down to it everybody who's not totally in favor of the status quo is a revisionist of some sort even Ayatollah Ruollah Khomeini.

[silentpoet]

Depends on what you mean by revisionists I guess. When you get right down to it everybody who's not totally in favor of the status quo is a revisionist of some sort even Ayatollah Ruollah Khomeini.

Actually he ain't revising much lately. Thankfully.

[svdbygrace]

While I long for the Methodist to come back to Anglicanism, there will be some issues to be resolved before this happens.

Yes... I agree. Some of the UM Church end, and some on the side of the Episcopal Church. I'm not sure it will happen by 2012 because Apostolic Succession as the Anglicans believe has not been "our thing". ;) Many would continue to argue that Methodists do have complete Apostolic Succession. I would have to be one of them. Adding more Succession through the Episcopal Bishops would not hurt anything though IMO if they insist.

[N728DA]

As a former United Methodist, I consider myself to have great relations with them. I have never met a Methodist I didnt like and even visit UMC Churches sometimes. Most Anglicans that I know share the same views.

-N728DA