| REPORT ON DIALOGUE WITH
THE WORLD METHODIST COUNCIL
While Methodist-Catholic relations receive much less publicity than
many bilateral dialogues, relations between the World Methodist Council
and the Catholic Church have grown steadily stronger over the past
thirty-five years. In many places Methodists and Catholics see
themselves as ecumenical partners who feel an obligation to take their
relationship further and to offer common witness. Relations are shaped
by the fact that there is no history of formal separation between
Catholics and Methodists, who grew out of the Anglican tradition.
Three significant events in Methodist-Catholic relations from the
past year give an indicator of the present state of relations: the
publication of a new joint report, the Catholic participation at last
Summer's World Methodist Conference, and a recent multi-lateral
consultation on the doctrine of justification.
1. Speaking the Truth in Love
The Pauline phrase "speaking the truth in love" (Eph 4,15)
was the motto of Cardinal Bea, the first President of the Secretariat
for Promoting Christian Unity. It was also a favourite text of Methodist
theologian Rev. Albert Outler, an observer at the Second Vatican
Council, who with Cardinal Bea played an important role in setting up
the Methodist-Catholic dialogue in 1967. It is therefore fitting that Speaking
the Truth in Love: Teaching Authority among Catholics and Methodists
is the title of the most recent Report of the Joint Catholic/Methodist
Commission.
Since its inception the Joint Commission has published a report every
five years, and Speaking the Truth in Love (2001) is the fourth
report to explore fundamental theology and foundational ecclesiological
issues. Addressing the subject of the exercise of teaching authority
within and by the Church, it stands in direct continuity with previous
Reports on The Apostolic Tradition (1991) and on Divine
Revelation (The Word of Life, 1996).
The new Commission Report addresses the teaching ministry in the
Church as a means whereby "the faith which comes from the apostles
is transmitted from generation to generation in such a way that all the
faithful continue to adhere to the revelation that has come in Christ
Jesus" (Preface). Speaking the Truth in Love is divided into
two parts. Part One states in systematic form what the Commission
believes it possible for Catholics and Methodists to agree on in the
matter of authoritative teaching, noting also theological differences
along the way. For instance, it affirms the "growing convergence
between Methodists and Catholics" on the relationship between
Scripture and Tradition, then proceeds to differentiate between Catholic
and Methodist means of dealing with "divergent traditions and
conflicting interpretations of the Gospel".
As with previous Reports of this Commission, Speaking the Truth in
Love has a strong focus on the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy
Spirit which maintains the Church in truth. While the entire Church,
ordained and lay, is involved in discerning the truth and the divine
will, Methodists and Catholics both appeal to "various organs of
the continuing Church" as the means by which the Spirit preserves
the Church in Christ. Differences remain both in terms of the defining
of those organs and the extent to which they are gifted by God to
accomplish this.
Part Two of the Report maps out first Methodist then Catholic
understanding and practice regarding teaching authority. This more
concrete account of the exercising of teaching authority is especially
helpful in that it prevents the possibility of theological discussion
becoming disconnected from actual practices. Coupled with the
incorporation into the Report of questions which Catholics and
Methodists would wish to pose to each other on key issues of the faith,
this practice of linking theoretical and practical accounts of the
exercise of teaching authority serves to clarify the precise areas of
convergence and difference, and to bring forward key concerns for the
next phase of the dialogue.
The Preface of the recent Report notes: "'Speaking the
truth in love' (Eph 4,15) is the title of the Commission's report: it
captures both the spirit in which the dialogue has proceeded and the
result that is hoped for from it.... Because Christ incarnates the love
and truth of God, love is integral to truth, and truth to love".
The joint "continuing pursuit of both in tandem" is the
well-articulated method of ongoing Methodist-Catholic relations.
As with previous Reports in this dialogue, the text's careful
theological plodding has produced results beyond expectations. While the
initial aim of the dialogue was greater mutual understanding and the
fostering of better local relationships, since the Report of 1986 on the
Church, the goal, while remaining a long way off, is now explicitly full
communion in faith, mission and sacramental life. The Reports have not
to this point been presented for any formal evaluation by either the
World Methodist Council or the Catholic Church.
2. The World Methodist Conference, July 2001
Seventy-four Ecclesial Communities with roots in the Methodist
tradition together make up the World Methodist Council. The
Council usually meets every two or three years, and has advisory and
administrative authority for its "member Churches". The
highest level of binding authority in Methodism, however, is the annual
Conference of each Church. The Council convenes a World Methodist
Conference every five years, which draws together Council members,
lay and ordained delegates from the member churches, and other visitors.
The Conference is "educational, inspirational and fraternal in
nature", and is composed of a mixture of inspirational addresses,
bible studies, seminars, and information about the work of the World
Methodist Council and its committees during the previous five years. The
gatherings of both the Council and the Conference are a principal means
by which the various churches of the Methodist family are held together.
The 18th World Methodist Conference met in Brighton, England, from
26-31 July 2001 and was attended by approximately 4,000 people. Its
overall theme, developed in talks and worship through the week, was
"Jesus: God's Way of Salvation". A meeting of the World
Methodist Council preceded the Conference. Among the significant events
of the Council was a change in the General Secretary of the World
Methodist Council. After 25 years, Dr Joe Hale has concluded his service
in this post; his successor will be the Reverend George Freeman.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity was invited to
send a representative to both Council and Conference and Monsignor
Timothy Galligan, who over the past eight years has been the Catholic
co-secretary of the international dialogue, attended throughout.
Cardinal Cassidy, Emeritus President of the PCPCU, was invited to give a
keynote address at the Conference's ecumenical seminar. In his address
on 'Ecumenism and Evangelism', he drew on the affirmations in Dominus
Iesus about the uniqueness of salvation in Jesus Christ as a
foundation for what Christians should say and do together. Cardinal
Cassidy also preached at the special Ecumenical Service held for the
whole Conference. The presence of official representation from the
Catholic Church for the whole of the World Methodist Conference and the
associated World Methodist Council meeting was widely appreciated.
The Conference passed, almost unanimously, a resolution calling for
the continuation of the official dialogue with the Catholic Church for
another five years.
3. The Columbus consultation on Justification
In 1999, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Catholic Church
signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of
Justification. Such an agreement was bound to have repercussions for all
the dialogue partners of the Catholic Church and the LWF. At the time of
the signing of the Joint Declaration, the World Methodist Council's
Executive Committee had adopted a short statement of congratulations and
appreciation, which was sent to the signing partners.
The World Methodist Council then took the initiative to propose a
meeting with representatives of the Catholic Church and the LWF in order
to discuss how the recent Joint Declaration could have favorable
consequences for others. The idea developed into a consultation, hosted
by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the LWF,
which included representatives from the World Methodist Council and the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The hope was that this multilateral
consultation could build upon the considerable measure of agreement on
the doctrine of justification that had already been demonstrated in
earlier bilateral dialogues involving the participating partners.
The Consultation was held in Columbus, Ohio, USA, from November
27-30, 2001, and focused on theological and procedural issues involved
in the possible association of the Methodist and Reformed families of
churches with the Joint Declaration. The Methodist representatives at
the Columbus meeting, including Dr Geoffrey Wainwright, their co-chair
of the Methodist-Catholic dialogue, identified the signing of the Joint
Declaration as a highly significant moment in Church history, and
indicated their desire to be a part of any movement forward based on
what it has achieved. All agreed to propose that the consultative
process be continued.
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