In the Spirit of the Covenant

9. Stories from Individuals

It is becoming clear that many individuals have their own stories to tell about covenant living.

It can be costly when both partners in a marriage are committed disciples of Jesus Christ but follow different Christian traditions. The Association of Inter-Church Families was formed several years ago to support couples in so-called 'mixed marriages', especially where one partner is in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox traditions.

Today the Church of England and the Methodist Church are already drawn closer to one another (and the pain of division is felt most keenly) when, for example, a priest in the Church of England is married to a Methodist presbyter.

This page provides space where, we hope, at least some of these stories can be told.

Anon (from Lincolnshire)

The story is told of the Methodist minister who resigned his orders on transferring to the Church of England. He was subsequently ordained priest and then, years later, was put in charge of a Local Ecumenical Partnership, as a result of which he was once again 'Recognised and Regarded' as a Methodist minister! Is this story heart-warming - or just absurd? Tell us what you think!

The Revd Jenny Park (Lincolnshire)

The Revd Jenny Park, the Methodist Superintendent Minister in South Holland Circuit, is also the Area Warden for Church of England Readers in the Spalding area. The initiative for her appointment came from the Readers themselves.