Tools for Local Implementation.

The scope for local collaboration between Methodist churches and Church of England parishes is greater than many people think.

This page summarises the main frameworks and procedures through which formal co-operation can be set up locally between the two Churches.

Contact ccu@cof-e.org.uk and/or eo@methodistchurch.org.uk for more detailed information.

Fresh Expressions Both the Church of England and the Methodist Church are already collaborating both locally and more widely in ways that are outside the scope of the formal arrangements. Away from the inherited structures of buildings, ordained ministers and public worship, almost anything is possible consistent with Gospel values. In the adventurous areas of mission initiatives and 'fresh expressions of church life,' and as we look for new ways of offering gospel hope and reconciliation to people in a fluid society, issues surrounding the licensing of ordained ministers and the conduct of public worship do not normally arise. A key new area of joint working is 'Fresh Expressions' - an autonomous initiative sponsored by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and supported by the Methodist Conference. Visit www.freshexpressions.org.uk for full details.

Ways of giving structure to living and working together locally:

A: Shared Buildings

For many years congregations from different Christian traditions (including the Church of England and the Methodist Church) have been able to conduct their worship in the same building. The legal framework was put in place through the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969. In the early years it was assumed that the different congregations would continue to worship separately at different times of day, but in many places the two Christian communities soon wanted to worship together. A Sharing Agreement under the 1969 Act still usually forms the foundation on which people can then build their life as a single united Christian congregation.

Download a pro forma Sharing Agreement for a Methodist building

Download guidance notes for a pro forma Sharing Agreement for a Methodist building

Download a pro forma Sharing Agreement for a Church of England building

Download guidance notes for a pro forma Sharing Agreement for a Church of England building

B: Shared Worship

Shared worship between the Church of England and the Methodist Church is permitted - and encouraged - in any parish church or local Methodist Church. However, both the Methodist Church and the Church of England maintain certain disciplines and courtesies which should be observed.

In a local Methodist Church:

•  The Minister and Stewards of the local Methodist Church, in consultation, have freedom to invite a Church of England congregation or an individual minister (lay or ordained) to take part in any Methodist services. However, ultimate responsibility for planning worship across the Circuit lies with the Superintendent Minister. In practice, this means that local congregations must indicate their wishes well in advance.

•  If a Church of England priest is to lead worship in the Methodist Church on a regular basis, the circuit must bring the priest's name to Conference so that he or she may be 'Authorised to Serve'.

In the local Parish Church and other Church of England Churches

•  The incumbent of the parish, with the consent of the Parochial Church Council, may invite a Methodist minister to lead or share in Church of England services on an occasional basis - except that the visiting minister may not conduct Church of England services of Holy Baptism or Holy Communion. Others, e.g. Local Preachers, may also be invited to do whatever they are authorised to do in their own church.

•  On a similar basis a Methodist minister and congregation may be invited to hold Methodist services in a parish church, including Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, on the understanding that these are not 'Church of England' services. However, for this to happen the bishop's permission should be sought.

•  The bishop's permission is needed for any of this, if it is to happen regularly.

•  In the context of secular marriage legislation, only Church of England priests can conduct services of Holy Matrimony (weddings).

In the context of the Covenant

•  Guidance has been issued to bishops in Church of England dioceses encouraging them routinely to grant permission for regular participation by named Methodist ministers in Church of England services in Church of England churches, when the incumbent and PCC request it - but excluding Holy Baptism and Holy Communion

•  The bishop's permission may, however, extend to include named Methodist ministers conducting Methodist services of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion in the Church of England church, when this is requested. In the case of Holy Baptism, those who are to be baptised, or their families, must also give consent.

•  Similarly, in the context of the Covenant, the guidance to the bishops encourages them also to permit individual Church of England ministers to conduct services, including Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, in Methodist churches, with the consent of the incumbent in whose parish the Methodist church is situated.

Download the guidelines issued to bishops for the application of the Church of England's Canon B43 in the context of the Covenant

Download a pro forma letter from a PCC to a bishop requesting permissions in accordance with these guidelines

C: Shared Congregational Life

Congregations of the two Churches worshipping in a shared building are nowadays unlikely to want to continue for long as separate worshipping congregations - although there are special circumstances where this is sometimes still appropriate.

Members of a single congregation may, if this fits with wider pastoral arrangements, agree that they will all attend Church of England and Methodist services provided on alternate Sundays. This arrangement particularly suits very small rural communities. When this is the case, the Joint Council set up under the Sharing Agreement often provides all that is needed to support this arrangement.

A more complete integration of congregational life is achieved when, at the request of the local congregations, the bishop of the diocese (on behalf of the Church of England) and the relevant connexional authorities (on behalf of the Methodist Church) agree to the formation of a Local Ecumenical Partnership. This process can lead to the creation of a single integrated Christian community, with a shared ministry, which can draw on the resources and inheritance from both traditions.

Single-congregation Local Ecumenical Partnerships can, of course, also involve the participation of a number of other Christian Churches - most commonly including the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Church and the Moravian Church.

Pro forma text for a constitution when a Church of England parish church and a Methodist Church want to become a single congregation in a Local Ecumenical Partnership

D: Shared Mission and Ministry

In many situations, the local Methodist church and the Church of England parish church (often along with other local churches, including the Roman Catholic Church) can come to recognise that they complement one another in terms of their ministry and mission. Each church may have a strong congregational life, but each can realise that it contributes to a wider Christian witness to their locality.

Where this happens, it is possible to develop integrated ministry teams and common strategies for mission and the nurture of Christian disciples.

This can then be expressed formally as a different kind of Local Ecumenical Partnership - based on a local covenant commitment.

As with a single-congregation partnership, at the request of the local congregations, the bishop of the diocese (on behalf of the Church of England), the relevant connexional authorities (on behalf of the Methodist Church) and the leaders of other participating Churches can agree a formal Partnership which permits a high level of shared ministry between all the participating Churches - and expresses a level of mutual commitment much deeper than is expressed through a local Churches Together group.

Setting up a Local Covenant Partnership

Standard paperwork is now available for local Anglican and Methodist Churches who want to make their own Local Covenant Partnership commitment - and who want to enable the greatest possible sharing of ordained ministry between their Churches.

Bishops in Church of England Dioceses are being recommended to arrange for this standard paperwork to be pre-agreed by the necessary diocesan authorities - thus simplifying the process for setting up formal partnerships. The texts that are now available have already been pre-agreed by the Methodist Connexion.

Even without this standard diocesan approval, these downloadable texts should still be acceptable in any Church of England Diocese on an individual basis.

The following papers are available - click as indicated to download:

1. An introductory VISION for what setting up a Local Covenant Partnership can achieve.

2. Guidelines for BISHOPS wishing to standardise procedures within their diocese and to commend Local Covenant Partnerships.

3. An important BACKGROUND paper by Bishop David Hawtin, setting out the principles underlying Local Covenant Partnerships.

4. Guidelines for PARISHES - and their Methodist partners - who want to set up a Local Covenant Partnership.

5. A useful CHECKLIST for parishes and local churches to make sure they really understand what they are committing themselves to!

6. A draft DECLARATION OF INTENT setting out the aims  of the proposed Local Covenant Partnership.

7. A pre-agreed text for a CONSTITUTION for a Local Covenant Partnership.

8. Suggested text for the formal LETTERS OF AUTHORISATION to be sent by the Bishop once the Local Covenant Partnership is set up.

9. An introductory note for Methodist readers.

E: For advice and assistance

Most Church of England dioceses and Methodist districts have designated Ecumenical Officers - please enquire locally.

These specialists work closely with each other and with the 'County Ecumenical Officer' for your area.  This person is the secretary of the 'Ecumenical Sponsoring Body' for your area which has oversight over all formal Local Ecumenical Partnerships on behalf of all the participating churches.

For the current list of County Ecumenical Officers visit the Churches Together in England website (www.cte.org.uk)