Giving structure to the way Anglicans and Methodist live and work together locally

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 – but not 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

D: Shared Mission and Ministry

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 Diocesan bishop and the relevant Methodist Connexional authorities & 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.