The promise of Full Communion between the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church led 30 people to Drew Theological School on Thursday, September 17, 2015 for Episcopal-Methodist Theology Day.
Co-sponsored by our diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission and the Commission on Christian Unity and Interfaith Relationships of the NJ Area Conference of the UMC, the day provided an opportunity to learn more about the latest theological developments and the challenges to a Full Communion agreement that is hoped to be presented to our General Convention in 2018 and to the UMC’s General Assembly in 2020. Bishop Mark Beckwith and Dean Javier Viera of the Theological School offered their presence and inspiration for the entire seminar.
After greetings from Bishop Beckwith and Dean Viera, the Rev. Canon Jay Gordon from the Diocese of New York (Ecumenical Commission, ret.) gave a cogent and thorough theological analysis of the challenges to Full Communion, based on the latest theological document prepared by the national dialogue team of the UMC and ECUSA. The Rev. Dr. Bob Williams, newly appointed to the national dialogue team, responded to some of those challenges and offered two examples of common ministry.
After the presentations, everyone joined the Drew seminary chapel congregation in a joyful service of Holy Eucharist, planned according to the interim Eucharistic sharing agreement that already exists between our two churches. Bishop Beckwith gave a rousing sermon (a video can be viewd on the diocesan facebook page, facebook.com/dionewark). Dean Viera – after dubbing our bishop an honorary Wesleyan – was the celebrant.
Over a casual lunch, seminar attendees discussed the presentations and their own experiences and questions. The Rev. Dr. Terry Todd, Associate Professor of American Religious Studies at Drew, gave a closing reflection.
This important and inspiring day celebrated the common Anglican roots of our two churches. There is still much to be resolved, but we begin on solid ground. Neither Anglicans nor Methodists have called into question the faith, the ministerial orders, or the sacraments of the other church. We recognize each other as part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church in which the Gospel is rightly preached. The goal is not a merger, but a state of full communion in which we can share fully in faith, sacraments and ministries, in order to more faithfully carry out God’s Mission in the world.
Video
Video of Bishop Beckwith's sermon courtesy Sanggeun Jo of Drew Theological School. Time: 15:47.
