Representatives of the Moravian Church and The United Methodist Church met from 11 to 13 September 2014 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the fourth session of the dialogue.
The purpose of the meeting was to draft a joint statement declaring and affirming a full communion relationship between our two churches.
Previously, the dialogue had explored questions relating to the history, doctrine, polity, and church life in the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church and The United Methodist Church. The dialogue committee found no church-dividing issues. Moreover, it concluded that, in accordance with the definitions used by each church to define a full communion relationship, such, in fact, exists already.
The Dialogue Committee finished its work on a Statement, with recommendations to their respective churches, and will soon transmit these documents to the appropriate authorities in the Moravian Church (Northern and Southern Provinces) and The United Methodist Church. Upon receipt of the Statement it is hoped that necessary approval will be given to recommendations and that a declaration and affirmation of a full communion relationship will be adopted by the Moravian Provincial Synods and the United Methodist General Conference.
The dialogue is co-chaired by Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, of The United Methodist Church the Rev. Gary Harke of the Moravian Church.
Other members of the team include Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schuler, and the Rev. Dr. Robert Williams representing The United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Dr. M. Lynnette Delbridge, and the Rt. Rev. Christian Giesler representing the Moravian Church (Northern and Southern Provinces). The committee has received staff assistance from Dr. Glen Alton Messer, II from the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church.
The participants began each session with devotions and finished with the celebration of the Eucharist.
Submitted by The Council of Bishops Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships
