Methodism

==Ecumenical relations==
Many Methodists have been involved in the [[Ecumenism|ecumenical movement]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Abraham|first1=William J.|last2=Kirby|first2=James E.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies|date=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0191607431|page=394|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D5AOZwZ8n_oC&pg=PT394|language=en}}</ref> which has sought to unite the fractured denominations of Christianity. Because Methodism grew out of the Church of England, a denomination from which neither of the Wesley brothers seceded, some Methodist scholars and historians, such as Rupert E. Davies, have regarded their 'movement' more as a preaching order within wider Christian life than as a church, comparing them with the [[Franciscan]]s, who formed a religious order within the medieval European church and not a separate denomination.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davies |first=Rupert E. |url=https://archive.org/details/methodism0000davi |title=Methodism |publisher=Epworth Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-7162-0280-8 |edition=2nd rev. |location=London, England |url-access=registration}}</ref> Certainly, Methodists have been deeply involved in early examples of [[United and uniting churches|church union]], especially the [[United Church of Canada]] and the [[Church of South India]].

A disproportionate number of Methodists take part in inter-faith dialogue. For example, [[Wesley Ariarajah]], a long-serving director of the [[World Council of Churches]]' sub-unit on "Dialogue with People of Living Faiths and Ideologies" is a Methodist.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ariarajah |first=Wesley |title=S. Wesley Ariarajah |url=http://www.users.drew.edu/wariaraj/ |access-date=21 April 2013 |publisher=Drew University}}</ref>

In October 1999, an executive committee of the World Methodist Council resolved to explore the possibility of its member churches becoming associated with the [[Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification|doctrinal agreement]] which had been reached by the [[Catholic Church]] and [[Lutheran World Federation]] (LWF). In May 2006, the International Methodist–Catholic Dialogue Commission completed its most recent report, entitled "The [[Grace (Christianity)|Grace]] Given You in Christ: Catholics and Methodists Reflect Further on the Church", and submitted the text to Methodist and Catholic authorities. In July of the same year, in [[Seoul]], South Korea, the Member Churches of the World Methodist Council (WMC) voted to approve and sign a "Methodist Statement of Association" with the [[Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]], the agreement which was reached and officially accepted in 1999 by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation and which proclaimed that:

<blockquote>"Together [[Confession of faith|we confess]]: By [[sola gratia|grace alone]], in [[Faith in Christianity|faith]] in Christ's [[Atonement in Christianity|saving work]] and not because of any [[Merit (Catholicism)|merit]] on our part, we are accepted by [[God in Christianity|God]] and receive the [[Holy Spirit]], who [[Sanctification|renews our hearts]] while [[Prevenient grace|equipping]] and [[Infused righteousness|calling us]] to [[good works]]... as [[Christian views on sin|sinners]] our [[Regeneration (theology)|new life]] is [[Total depravity|solely due]] to the [[forgiveness|forgiving]] and renewing mercy that God [[Imparted righteousness|imparts]] as a gift and that we receive in faith, and never [[Pelagianism|can merit]] in any way," affirming "fundamental doctrinal agreement" concerning [[Justification (theology)|justification]] between the Catholic Church, the LWF, and the World Methodist Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20060723_text-association_en.html |title=Methodist Association with the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303070603/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20060723_text-association_en.html |archive-date=3 March 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref></blockquote>

This is not to say there is perfect agreement between the three denominational traditions; while Catholics and Methodists believe that [[Salvation (Christianity)|salvation]] involves [[Synergism (theology)|cooperation between God and man]], Lutherans believe that God [[Imputed righteousness|brings about the salvation]] of individuals [[Monergism|without any cooperation]] on their part.

Commenting on the ongoing dialogues with Catholic Church [[Magisterium|leaders]], Ken Howcroft, Methodist minister and the Ecumenical Officer for the Methodist Church of Great Britain, noted that "these conversations have been immensely fruitful."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.va/en/news/methodist-viewpoint-on-ecumenical-dialogue|title=Vatican Radio, 2012, Methodist Viewpoint on Ecumenical Dialogue|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129071230/http://www.news.va/en/news/methodist-viewpoint-on-ecumenical-dialogue|url-status=dead}}</ref> Methodists are increasingly recognizing that the 15 centuries prior to the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] constitute a [[History of Christianity|shared history]] with Catholics, and are gaining new appreciation for neglected aspects of the Catholic tradition.<ref>Donald Bolan, [[Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]], '[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20070125_bolen-methodists_en.html Catholic-Methodist relations: Working for a "joint living out of the Gospel] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221020/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20070125_bolen-methodists_en.html |date=3 March 2016 }}"' 2007.</ref> There are, however, important unresolved doctrinal differences [[Schism (religion)|separating]] Roman Catholicism and Methodism, which include "the nature and validity of the [[Holy Orders|ministry]] of those who preside at the Eucharist [Holy Communion], the [[Eucharistic theologies summarised|precise meaning of the Eucharist]] as the sacramental 'memorial' of Christ's saving death and resurrection, the particular way in which [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|Christ is present]] in Holy Communion, and the link between eucharistic communion and [[Full communion|ecclesial communion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20060604_seoul-report_en.html |title=Joint Commission for Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Methodist Council, 2006, "The Grace Given You in Christ: Catholics and Methodists Reflect Further on the Church |access-date=15 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529102827/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/meth-council-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20060604_seoul-report_en.html |archive-date=29 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In the 1960s, the Methodist Church of Great Britain made ecumenical overtures to the Church of England, aimed at denominational union. Formally, these failed when they were rejected by the Church of England's [[General Synod]] in 1972; conversations and co-operation continued, however, leading in 2003 to the signing of a covenant between the two churches.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 November 2003 |title=Anglican–Methodist Covenant |url=http://www.anglican-methodist.org.uk/ |access-date=19 April 2013 |publisher=Anglican-methodist.org.uk}}</ref> From the 1970s onward, the Methodist Church also started several [[Local Ecumenical Project]]s (LEPs, later renamed Local Ecumenical Partnerships) with local neighbouring denominations, which involved sharing churches, schools and in some cases ministers. In many towns and villages Methodists are involved in LEPs which are sometimes with Anglican or Baptist churches, but most commonly Methodist and [[United Reformed Church]]. In terms of belief, practice and churchmanship, many Methodists see themselves as closer to the United Reformed Church (another [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformist]] church) than to the Church of England.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} In the 1990s and early 21st century, the British Methodist Church was involved in the Scottish Church Initiative for Union, seeking greater unity with the established and Presbyterian [[Church of Scotland]], the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] and the United Reformed Church in Scotland.<ref>[http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=359 The Methodist Church in Britain | The Scottish Church Initiative For Union (SCIFU)]. Methodist.org.uk. Retrieved on 11 December 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618102759/http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=359|date=18 June 2012}}.</ref>

The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a member of several ecumenical organisations, including the [[World Council of Churches]], the [[Conference of European Churches]], the [[Community of Protestant Churches in Europe]], [[Churches Together in Britain and Ireland]], [[Churches Together in England]], [[Action of Churches Together in Scotland]] and [[Cytûn]] (Wales).

Methodist denominations in the United States have also strengthened ties with other Christian traditions. In April 2005, bishops in the [[United Methodist Church]] approved ''A Proposal for Interim Eucharistic Sharing.'' This document was the first step toward [[full communion]] with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA). The ELCA approved this same document in August 2005.<ref name="ELCA—UMC">{{cite web|url = http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/unitedmethodist/index.html|title = Lutheran – United Methodist Dialogue|publisher = Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|access-date = 8 June 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612204147/http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/unitedmethodist/index.html|archive-date = 12 June 2007|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref> At the 2008 General Conference, the United Methodist Church approved full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.<ref name="ENI- Methodists Approve Full Communion with ELCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=1867 |title=Methodists yes to full communion with Lutherans; no on gay change |publisher=Ecumenical News International |access-date=16 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109084955/http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=1867 |archive-date=9 January 2009 }}</ref> The UMC is also in dialogue with the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal Church]] for full communion.<ref name="UMC—Episcopal Church USA">{{cite web|url=http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=7664 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707112625/http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=7664 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2012 |title=Council approves interim pacts with Episcopalians, Lutherans |publisher=The United Methodist Church |access-date=8 June 2007 }}</ref> The two denominations are working on a document called "Confessing Our Faith Together".{{update inline|date=December 2021}}