Church of England and Methodists to discuss sharing clergy
by Callum May, BBC:
Methodists and the Church of England are to discuss allowing ministers and priests to serve in each other’s Churches.
The step would in effect end a division in protestant Christianity that has existed in Britain since the 1700s.
The plans have been released jointly by the Churches at a time when they have lost worshippers.
They require approval from both the Church of England and Methodist governing bodies.
The Methodist Church claimed 195,000 members last year, compared with 263,000 in 2007, while numbers attending Church of England services have fallen by 12% in the last decade.
The proposals are included in a report produced by both Churches called “Mission and Ministry in Covenant”.
Under the plans, a new Methodist “president-bishop” would join Anglican bishops to ordain Methodist ministers to serve in the Church of England.
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