On 27 June 2017, the Faith and Order Commission of the Church of England and the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church published Mission and Ministry in Covenant.
Both Churches asked for some further work on particular aspects of the report and the results of this reflection can be found here.
News/Press releases on the publication of Mission and Ministry in Covenant:
The Methodist Conference and the General Synod: July 2017
The report was the subject of workshops at the Methodist Conference on 1 July and the Questions Session at the General Synod of the Church of England on 7 July.
The General Synod: February 2018
On 9 February 2018, there was a debate at the General Synod on the proposals set out in Mission and Ministry in Covenant (GS 2086).
It was preceded by addresses by The Revd Ruth Gee (President of the Methodist Conference 2013-2014) and The Revd Gareth Powell (Secretary of the Methodist Conference). The addresses and the debate can be watched on YouTube here (starting at 2:48:30).
An amended motion was voted on in houses as follows:
House of Bishops: 35 in favour; 2 against; 0 abstentions.
House of Clergy: 131 in favour; 23 against; 13 abstentions.
House of Laity: 124 in favour; 34 against; 11 abstentions.
The Church of England issued a press release that can be read here.
The Methodist Church issued a news release that can be read here.
The Methodist Conference: June-July 2018
Mission and Ministry in Covenant was discussed at the Methodist Conference on 2 July following presentations by the Bishop of Aston, The Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst, and the Bishop of Carlisle, The Rt Revd James Newcome. The Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church provided a report called The Mission and Ministry in Covenant Proposals to help resource that discussion. The Conference adopted Resolutions 33/1 and 33/2, which are set out in the report from the Faith and Order Committee; the Conference also directed the Faith and Order Committee to include progress on work relating to the interchangeability of deacons in any further reports.
Mission and Ministry in Covenant: A Reader’s Guide:
Mission and Ministry in Covenant – A Reader’s Guide formatted on A4
Mission and Ministry in Covenant: A Reader’s Guide formatted to be printed on A3 and folded into A5.