Mission Shaped and Ecumenical

Image via WikipediaIn March 2010, Churches Together in England ran a consultation, 'Mission Shaped and Ecumenical: Missioners and Ecumenists in Conversation'.  It's been a long time since then but at last the notes from the meeting have become available.  I don't think they are available online and so I will attempt to summarise them here.  I must say I think the idea for the consultation was a good one but sadly I find the resulting notes a little disappointing.

The conversation took place because there is a misconception that local ecumenical structures tend to hinder pioneering mission.  The idea was to get people involved in pioneering mission into conversation with ecumenists. 

The stage was set through two papers.  The first, 'Mission in a post-denominational culture' was by Graham Cray and the second, Patterns of church and mission in the Acts of the Apostles' was by Loveday Alexander. 

The conversation that followed highlighted these points:

1. Ecumenism in terms of its organisational structures carries a stigma, which is unfair as many feel it is being scape-goated for all the structures of the inherited churches.  The reality is that ecumenical structures are appropriate for some fresh expressions and not for others.  It would not be appropriate to ignore the presence of other denominations (although this happens) as ideally there is a need for 'a new sense of waiting on God together to discern his will'.
2. Uniting in mission can transcend denominationalism and it does.  Much collaboration happens 'under the radar', most of us have little idea of the amount of collaboration that takes place.  Let's face it, many expressions of local ecumenism are missional.
3. We should take care not to be too glib in dismissing Christendom.  The line between maintenance and mission is not easy to define.  Indeed, for many it is the traditional approaches, eg the parish system, that helps people understand the church is for them.  The inherited church raises issues of money. resources and power.  These might not be comfortable subjects but we should not be afraid to discuss them.
4. There is a need for a range of options for structural ecumenism, which can be tailored to specific contexts.
5. Fresh Expressions tends to be Anglican or Protestant and this masks certain ecclesiological questions about the nature and shape of the church.  The dialogue needs to engage insights from Catholic, Orthodox and Pentecostal traditions.
6. There needs to be dialogue between those who have responsibility for mission and those who control resources.  
7. Conversations between Fresh Expressions and CTE about how ecumenism is re-formulating itself around mission need to take place.  There is potential here for a 'creative synergy', as churches attempt to understand their inherited structures alongside of mission in a complex, increasingly unchurched society.

Related articles

• Supporting Local Ecumenical Life (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)
• Strategic Planning: Mission Together (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)
• A Review of Intermediate Ecumenical Life in England (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)
• The Sponsoring Body (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)

New Ecumenism

Image via Wikipedia

This is an appeal for information.  There is a request from members of the Connexional Team for news of New Ecumenism, that is Methodist Churches working in partnership with new churches. 

Examples of new churches might include be the Pioneer Networks, independent or house churches and of course Fresh Expressions.  We would also be interested to hear of  partnership working with churches not traditionally involved in ecumenical work, such as the black majority churches. 

If you have any accounts, send them to the Assistant Ecumenical Officer.  Suitable stories will be circulated amongst ecumenical staff on the team.  There is a possibility, with the senders' agreement, to feature these stories on Methodist Ecumenical News.  If that is a possibility, it would be good to have some photos or videos too.

Formal Ecumenism, Fresh Expressions and the New Churches

An important piece of work currently under development is the Joint Anglican Methodist Working Party on the Ecclesiology of Emerging Expressions of Church (JAMWPEEEC). 
One theological question they are addressing is, when does something that is an expression of Christian action become a church?  When should it be treated as a church and indeed treat itself as a church? 

Many new churches currently have no link with formal ecumenism, or understanding of its history or purpose.  There is no established link between fresh expressions and ecumenism.  The tendency is for each to talk internally amongst people who agree with each other.

The situation is complicated because the churches differ in their understanding of what they mean by church.  So, the Orthodox understanding of the Church, for example, means that to them all churches with the possible exception of the Roman Catholic Church are fresh expressions!  Ecumenists in all traditions need to find a way to move beyond presenting a view and discuss this question. 

The discussion is currently very imbalanced and we are failing to create an ecumenical space for the necessary conversations to take place.  This also means resources need to be found for these conversations.

This is the second of three theological issues identified at a recent meeting of National Ecumenical Officers.  They are all red hot issues, as yet unresolved.  So, please add your comments, particularly if they relate to how you experience this issue locally.  Comments will be passed to the relevant people.

Methodist Anglican Panel for Unity in Mission, November 2010

Image by federico.ricci via Flickr

How can we be sure a light touch
is the right touch?

I haven't mentioned MAPUM so far and so here is a brief account of what it is.

About two years ago, the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity (CCU) and the Methodist Council agreed to form a successor body to the CCU Local Unity Panel (LUP) and the Methodist Committee for Local Ecumenical Development (CLED) to further the work of Unity in Mission.

The title “Methodist – Anglican Panel for Unity in Mission” (MAPUM) combines the three elements of:

• working together under the Covenant,
• sharing insights and attending to issues, and
• holding the dual imperatives of Unity and Mission with the conviction that neither can be fully addressed in isolation.

MAPUM meets today.  Here are highlights from the agenda.  As always, ask if you would like any items expanded upon.

1. Joint Implementation Commission: Report of meetings held in May and October
2. Promotion of the Anglican Methodist Covenant – AMC website and other methods.  The link takes you to a previous post, which explains this agenda item and requests information.  Any comments you have are still helpful.
3. Methodist – Church of England Single Congregation LEPs: Review of possible models of governance.  This is a report of some of the issues that have come up around the new model constitution for Local Ecumenical Partnerships.   I will post about these issues once things are clearer.
4. Methodist Council – URC Mission Council report of joint meeting.
5. Local Ecumenism Report - a long paper 'Local Unity in Mission' is in preparation for consideration by the Church of England's House of Bishops.  I will post about this when it becomes available.

• Update and process
• Ecumenical Fresh Expressions.  A paper 'Unity in Mission in Fresh Expressions' is to be discussed.  It contrasts 'right touch' with 'light touch' ecumenism.  This will be a topic for a later post.
• Origin and Developments of LEPs. A new paper covering the history of Local Ecumenical Partnerships.  This too will be a theme for a future post.

Related articles

• 'An Anglican Methodist Covenant' Website (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)
• 5-way Consultation Starts Today (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)

Churches Together In England Enabling Group, September 2010

Westminster Hall in 1808 (from Wikipedia Commons)

Today Churches Together in England's Enabling Group meets for one of its twice yearly meetings.  Enabling Group's role is to reflect upon the progress of ecumenical relationships in England.  It is 'a key level of governance because it is where all the churches, which are members of the organisation, are able to be represented.  (It) also includes representatives of the Intermediate Bodies, representatives of the Bodies in Association and of the Forum.'  (See CTE's websites for definitions of these terms.)  Some time will be set aside for the review of governance, which has been taking place during the last year.

The meeting will take place in London.  Originally, Enabling Group was to meet in Leeds but the Pope's visit led to a change of plan.  So, the meeting will be interrupted so that its members can attend the service in Westminster Abbey.  The Pope will be delivering an address in Westminster Hall at the House of Commons, which will be relayed to the service in Westminster Abbey.  This will take a big chunk of time out of the Enabling Group meeting, as the service will take in excess of two hours.

The rest of the Enabling Group meeting will comprise of CTE Annual General Meeting and election of Directors.  Enabling Group will hear reports from the Directors and General Secretary.  The group will also consider two applications for membership of CTE.

Some of the issues likely to come up include:

1. A document is to be published soon about a conversation initiated earlier this year between ecumenists and exponents of 'Fresh Expressions'.
2. Observations about changes happening in Intermediate Bodies and the implications of local changes happening 'under the radar' for Intermediate Bodies in general. 
3. The Right to Warmth Campaign

So, this meeting will be somewhat truncated.  I'll report on any significant decisions later.  Leave a comment if there is anything you would particularly like to read about.

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• Methodist President will meet Pope Benedict XVI (ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com)
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Joint Implementation Commission Update

Methodist Conference 2010 received the following report from the Joint Implementation Commission of the Anglican Methodist Covenant. 

Joint Implementation Commission – Update on Work in Progress, June 2010

 The Joint Implementation Commission was set up by the Methodist Conference and the General Synod when they approved the Covenant in July 2003. The remit of the JIC is to monitor and promote the implementation of the Covenant. The first phase of the JIC came to an end in July 2008, and a refreshed Commission was appointed with Professor Peter Howdle and Bishop Christopher Cocksworth as co-chairs and the Revd Ken Howcroft and the Revd Canon Dr Paul Avis as co-conveners. The JIC meets three times a year.

 The JIC is encouraging our two churches to work together as one in all the ways that are already possible, while it continues to address more long-term issues. The following areas will be included in the substantial interim report that the JIC intends to bring to Conference and Synod in 2011:

• The interchangeability of ordained ministries, and the role of the historic episcopate in this, continues to be a priority for the JIC. The JIC is being informed by the Faith and Order bodies of both Churches.
• The JIC is also doing innovative work on shared local unity in mission in order to maximise what is already possible under the rules of our churches.
• An important and constructive consultation on the ministry of deacons in our two churches was held at the Methodist Diaconal Order’s Centre in April 2010.
• The JIC has been collating responses from dioceses and from the Methodist Connexion on its 2008 report Embracing the Covenant.
• Scottish and Welsh Methodism each have a voice on the current JIC, and the Church in Wales and the Scottish Episcopal Church are represented.
• Fresh Expressions remains a major joint initiative under the Covenant; the United Reformed Church has recently become a partner in the organisation.
• Under the Covenant, a joint working party is looking at the ecclesiological implications of emerging expressions of Church; this group has direct links with Fresh Expressions.
• The United Reformed Church has a representative on the JIC; both our churches are developing their relationship with the URC.
• Elizabeth Hall has been appointed as Safeguarding Officer for both churches, succeeding the Revd Pearl Luxon.
• The JIC is researching current joint training of Local Preachers and Readers in order to promote this further.

Mission Shaped and Ecumenical

The following, by Roger Paul, is taken with permission from a recent edition of the Church of England Council for Christian Unity's (CCU) Bulletin:

Back in March, CCU in collaboration with Churches Together in England, held a consultation at Aylesford Priory entitled ‘Mission Shaped and Ecumenical’. Twenty people from the mission and from the ecumenical networks were invited to take part. We were helped in our reflections by the Right Revd Graham Cray, leader of the Fresh Expressions team, and the Revd Canon Professor Loveday Alexander, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Sheffield University. The aim of the consultation was to begin a conversation between these two groups, in the conviction that Unity and Mission are inextricable linked. A discussion document will be ready in time for the autumn – and I hope to provide a link to it from this blog.

Here is a flavour of some the themes discussed:

The call for light touch ecumenism arises out of the tension between informal and flexible local collaboration and formal ecumenical structures and agreements. There is undoubtedly a widespread frustration with formal ecumenical structures and the perception that Local Ecumenical Partnerships kill off mission. Despite this, there has been an increasing level of informal ecumenical collaboration in establishing fresh expressions. There is a real need to listen to these frustrations.

Ecumenical mission brings together different perspectives of mission which demands deep listening. How far do different confessions and communions share a common mission? How can different charisms in mission collaborate rather than compete? Can different mission strategies complement each other?’

(from my opening remarks).

‘The aim of the consultation was to select people from different perspectives, in the conviction that mission and unity are inseparable, and that there is need for reconciliation between the two perspectives. The unity of the trinity is at the heart of the Gospel and Christian disciples are drawn into that unity in the life of the Trinity. To refuse to acknowledge one another is to ignore what God has already done in calling us to discipleship.

God is a missionary God, always going ahead of us. Calvin wrote of the world as the theatre of God’s glory, and there is a sense in which the intent of God is to draw all that is into his blessing. The Church is a foretaste of that, so unity and mission are complementary activities rooted in the actions of our missionary God.’

(from David Cornick's (General Secretary of CTE) opening remarks.)