Nearly a century of ecumenical dialogue between Episcopalians and Methodists is approaching a crossroad. In May, United Methodist bishops cleared the way for a 2020 General Conference vote on a full communion agreement that would allow the two churches to share clergy. If the Methodists approve the proposal, the Episcopal Church could take it up at General Convention in 2021.<\/p>\n
But the proposal faces new obstacles in the wake of the Methodists\u2019 bitterly contested Special Conference in St. Louis in late February. At that meeting, the UMC reaffirmed its stance barring \u201cself-avowed practicing homosexuals\u201d from ordained ministry and toughened sanctions for clergy who officiate at same-sex weddings.<\/p>\n
Some now worry full communion could become a casualty of tense, politically charged times in churches at risk of breaking apart. But others say it is time to keep building on ecumenical momentum and not let sexuality debates interfere with a larger witness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will have to be a great educational plan for people to understand it and to not let the one discussion derail the other discussion,\u201d said Bishop Gregory Palmer, cochair of the Episcopal Church\u2013United Methodist Dialogue Committee, which moved full communion forward at an April meeting in Austin.<\/p>\n