Ordination

Lord Griffiths, an ordained Minister in the Methodist Church and past president of Conference has asked for permission from Conference to receive “Conditional Ordination” in the Church of England. Permission has not been given for this to take place and I believe rightly so.  For the Church of England to require that Methodist Ministers receive Ordination by an Anglican Bishop is clearly stating that Methodist Ordination is not sufficient or complete in itself and therefore Methodist Ministers must be considered inadequate or inferior.  I consider this to be an insult to our clergy and a clear statement that we are not considered equal partners in the Methodist Anglican Covenant.  I have never heard it suggested that an Anglican Vicar or Priest would have to undergo Ordination in the Methodist Church before being allowed to officiate.  Perhaps we should insist on this and see how well that is received.  Perhaps not so well known is that the Anglicans are in dialogue with the Catholic Church with a view to eventual uniting of the denominations.  Can we expect therefore that our Ministers will then have to undergo another Ordination before becoming  Catholic Priests.  I don’t blame the Anglicans for holding fast to what they believe.  It is just a pity that we couldn’t do the same.  That might just involve telling them where to go and that wouldn’t be “PC”.  But isn’t that just what John Wesley did?