Methodists, four other Scottish churches, considering union
4/21/1998 Note: This story first appeared in the April 1 issue of the Methodist Recorder, weekly newspaper of British Methodism. Distributed with permission by United Methodist News Service. By Avril Bottoms* Formal talks about union among five churches in Scotland, including the Methodist Church, could be taking place by the year 2001.
A consultative paper offering suggestions for a united church in Scotland is to be presented at the assemblies, synods and conferences of the denominations this summer. The hope is that it will be widely studied as part of the process towards eventual full union.
The Scottish Church Initiative for Union involves the Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal United Reformed, Congregational and Methodist Churches with the United Free and Roman Catholic Churches as observers.
Talks began in January 1996 and the interim report, made public late in March, makes clear that, given the support or agreement of the churches, the earliest dates at which specific plans could be presented formally would be 2001 or 2002.
The chairman of the Methodist Synod in Scotland said he was pleased that after more than 25 years of discussion there was now a situation in which the five denominations had been able to produce an interim report.
"The interim report shows that significant ground has been covered and significant changes made within churches which have allowed us to move rather more quickly," he said.
The initiative group, says the report, wishes to challenge the churches at all levels to become involved in the process of union. But it makes clear that every church would preserve as much as possible of its traditions and diversity. Wide varieties of practices would be recognized and adaptability would be essential.
"Unity should not be confused with uniformity. Our churches have a high degree of unity in faith and doctrine. While this does not require each tradition to accept every doctrinal formulation or characteristic of the distinctive traditions, it does require them to face and overcome the remaining obstacles to close union," the report says.
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*Bottoms is a staff writer for the Methodist Recorder, weekly newspaper of British Methodism.
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