Sep 27 2017
September 9-13, 2017 the annual meeting of the European Methodist Council took place in the suburbs of London, England. Bishops, pastors and leaders representing Methodist churches in Europe participated in the meeting.
This year the meeting took place in the very heart of Methodism. John Wesley lived, believed and preached in England many years ago. The movement of Methodists was born there and then grew out of the boundaries of the United Kingdom, spread throughout the world and gave rise to a new church, which was called the Methodist Church in honor of this movement.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Traditionally the life, joys and problems of the ministry of our church in Europe were discussed during the meeting of the Council. The question of assistance to migrants from the Middle East is still topical; representatives of the churches from Italy, Germany and Scandinavian countries shared their experience of ministry. Our British brothers and sisters shared with us the situation of Brexit.
We prayed, reflected on the Word of God, praised the Lord and worshipped together. The European Methodist Festival in Germany is being actively prepared. It will be held in 2018. And we discussed the participation of our churches in this joyful event.
On Sunday all participants of the European Methodist Council meeting took part in the worship service in Wesley’s Chapel in London.
A significant and important event occurred after the worship. Bishops and heads of the Methodist and Wesleyan Churches in Europe signed an official agreement on friendship and cooperation between the Churches in the service to God and people. The prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for unity among His followers was reflected in this agreement. It will undoubtedly bear abundant fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and in His Church.
Community of Methodist and Wesleyan Churches in Europe
1. In 1993, the “European Methodist Council” was founded with the aim to include all the
churches of a Methodist or Wesleyan tradition in Europe, and united churches in
Europe that have inherited the Methodist or Wesleyan tradition.
2. The European Methodist Council exists to:
• Enable member churches to consult together on matters of common concern;
• Enable a stronger Methodist witness in Europe;
• Enable member churches to share resources with one another, as need may arise;
• Enable member churches to be more adequately represented in ecumenical and
secular bodies;
• Enable member churches to share with other ecumenical partners in Christian
mission in Europe;
• Co-ordinate existing co-operative Methodist work in Europe;
• Offer advice to member churches.
3. The membership and the rights and duties are as defined in the constitution.
Recognizing the purpose of the Council as expressed in 2) we the member churches
wish to strengthen the relationships with one another by living in community.
As a community of separate churches each with our own unique and shared traditions,
doctrines and church discipline we seek to celebrate and affirm:
• Each other’s Baptism and administration of the Eucharist
• The validity of our respective ordinations and ministries of Word and Sacrament
(elder/pastor/presbyter), and of Word and Service (deacon), and each other’s polity
and ministries of oversight and authorised lay ministries.
4. In seeking to celebrate our common heritage and to be faithful in our witness to the
love of God revealed in Jesus Christ we commit ourselves to:
• Celebrate worship services and the Eucharist together where ordained ministers from
member churches are serving together or where ordained ministers from one church
are temporarily serving in the other church,
• Welcome members from each other’s churches as our own members to take part in
worship services, receive the sacraments, receive other pastoral services and to
participate in the life of local churches.
• Offer hospitality towards all of God’s children, particularly those affected by global
migration.
• Fuller participation in God’s mission and ministry, through prayer and deeds, and
through finding ways for further co-operation including the sharing of resources
where applicable and beneficial.
• A more effective sharing of ordained ministries in accordance with the discipline of
our churches.
• Continue to discuss the implementation of the agreement to deepen the
relationships and to make the relationship between our churches visible.
• Develop co-operation where more than one member church is present in a
geographical area.
• To strengthen the connection within the world wide Methodist family.
• Invite representatives from each other’s churches to each other’s conferences and
synods when appropriate.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Approved by the European Methodist Council, Porto, September 2016.
To be ratified by the governing body of the member churches