The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2024-A049 |
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| Title: | Affirm the Goal of Full Communion between The Episcopal Chuch and the United Methodist Church |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That this 81st General Convention affirm previous resolutions 2018-A041, 2018-A261, and 2006-A055 for The Episcopal Church to continue dialogue with The United Methodist Church with the goal of reaching full communion; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention celebrate with The United Methodist Church the historic and sweeping changes to the Book of Discipline and Social Principles made at their 2024 General Conference regarding the “ordination and marriage of homosexual persons,” advancing towards our common goals of an open and inclusive church for all God’s people; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention joyfully anticipate advancing towards full communion with The United Methodist Church as outlined in The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue 2010 document, “A Theological Foundation for Full Communion between The Episcopal Church and The United Methodist Church” and then summarized in 2018’s “A Gift to the World, Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness” and affirmed for implementation by the vote of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage all Episcopalians to utilize the many resources available to understand the substance of the dialogue and its goal of full communion; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage and support prayerful consideration by all Episcopalians during the coming triennium of this significant step forward in response to our Lord’s fervent wish “that all may be one ”; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue to continue its work towards full communion, including but not limited to such matters as a “Principles for the Orderly Exchange of Ministers” document and a plan for liturgical recognition and reconciliation of orders.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Louisville, 2024 (New York: General Convention, 2024), pp. 400-401. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations |
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations presented its Report #10 on Resolution A049 (Affirming the Goal of Full Communion between The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(A049)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That this 81st General Convention affirms previous resolutions 2018-A041, 2018-A261, and 2006-A055 for The Episcopal Church to continue dialogue with the United Methodist Church with the goal of reaching full communion; and be it further
Resolved, That as the United Methodist Church’s General Conference meets in 2024 after a four-year hiatus, this Convention joyfully anticipates advancing towards full communion with the United Methodist Church as outlined in The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue 2010 document, “A Theological Foundation for Full Communion between The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church” and then summarized in 2018’s “A Gift to the World, Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness”; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourages all Episcopalians to utilize the many resources available to understand the substance of the dialogue and its goal of full communion. Resources can be found on the websites of The Episcopal Church (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/ecumenical-interreligious/united-methodist-episcopal-dialogue/), the Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (edeio.org), and umc-tec.org, a website supporting full communion between the United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourages and supports prayerful consideration by all Episcopalians during the coming triennium of this significant step forward in response to our Lord’s fervent wish “that all may be one.”
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That this 81st General Convention affirm previous resolutions 2018-A041, 2018-A261, and 2006-A055 for The Episcopal Church to continue dialogue with The United Methodist Church with the goal of reaching full communion; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention celebrate with The United Methodist Church the historic and sweeping changes to the Book of Discipline and Social Principles made at their 2024 General Conference regarding the “ordination and marriage of homosexual persons,” advancing towards our common goals of an open and inclusive church for all God’s people; and be it further
Resolved, That as the United Methodist Church's General Conference meets in 2024 after a four-year haitus, that
That this Convention joyfully anticipate advancing towards full
communion with The United Methodist Church as outlined in The Episcopal
Church-United Methodist Dialogue 2010 document, “A Theological
Foundation for Full Communion between The Episcopal Church and The
United Methodist Church” and then summarized in 2018’s “A Gift to the
World, Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness” and affirmed for implementation by the vote of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage all Episcopalians
to utilize the many resources available to understand the substance of
the dialogue and its goal of full communion; . Resources can be found
on the websites of The Episcopal Church
(https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/ecumenical-interreligious/united-methodist-episcopal-dialogue/),
the Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers
(edeio.org), and umc-tec.org, a website supporting full communion
between the United Methodist Church and The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage and support
prayerful consideration by all Episcopalians during the coming triennium
of this significant step forward in response to our Lord’s fervent wish
“that all may be one. ;” and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention encourage The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue to continue its work towards full communion, including but not limited to such matters as a “Principles for the Orderly Exchange of Ministers” document and a plan for liturgical recognition and reconciliation of orders.
Debate ensued.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #73)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations presented its Report #16 on HB Message #73 on Resolution A049 (Affirming the Goal of Full Communion between The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #194)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 26.
| Report Reference: | Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, Reports to the 81st General Convention, 2024. |
|---|---|
| Source Documents: | The Episcopal
Church and the United Methodist Church, Theological Foundation for Full Communion
between The Episcopal Church
and The United Methodist Church Source Citation: https://www.episcopalarchives.org/files/sceir/methodist/Methodist_TEC_Theological_Foundation_2010.pdf. Last accessed 07/30/2025. The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, A Gift to the World: Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness Source Citation: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/eir_a_gift_to_the_world.pdf. Last accessed 07/30/2025. |
| Abstract: | The 81st General Convention celebrates the advancement towards common goals of an open and inclusive church and encourages the continuation of The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue towards the goal of full communion. |