FIRST SERIES (1967-1971)

MEETINGS

1. October 15-19, 1967 – Ariccia, Italy
   “Mutual Presentations; Sanctification; Practical Cooperation”
2. August 31 – September 4, 1968 – London, England
   “Eucharist; Authority”
3. September 15-19, 1969 – Rabat, Malta
   “Ministry; The Church in the Contemporary World”
4. August 24-28, 1970 – Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA
   “Christian Home and Family” – DENVER REPORT (1971) – REPORT

CO-CHAIRS

Bishop Odd Hagen, Stockholm, Sweden (1967-69) (M)
Bishop William R. Cannon, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (1970) ( M)
Most Rev. John Murphy, Archbishop of Cardiff, Wales (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Lee F. Tuttle, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Canon William A. Purdy, Vatican (RC)

SECOND SERIES (1972-1976)

MEETINGS

1. December 10-14, 1972 – Rome, Italy
   “Reorganizing and Planning”
2. October 1-5, 1973 – Reuti-Hasliberg, Switzerland
   “Common Witness and Salvation Today, with Special Reference to the Bangkok Conference”
3. September 30 – October 3, 1974 – Venice, Italy
   “Evangelization, with Special Reference to the RC Episcopal Synod in Rome; Prevenient Grace, Conversion, Salvation Today; Spirituality; Eucharist; Mixed Marriages; Methodist Involvement in Church Union Plans”
4. September 8-12 1975 – Bristol, England
   “Common witness and salvation: Eucharist, ministry and spirituality”
   DUBLIN REPORT (1976): “GROWTH IN UNDERSTANDING” – REPORT

CO-CHAIRS

Bishop William R. Cannon, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (M)
Rt. Rev. Michael Bowen, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, England (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Lee F. Tuttle, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Canon William A. Purdy, Vatican (RC)

THIRD SERIES (1977-1981)

MEETINGS

1. October 3-6, 1977 – Bad Soden, West Germany
   “Reorganizing and Planning”
2. January 28 – February 1, 1979 – Rome, Italy
   “Doctrine and Person of the Holy Spirit”
3. November 26-30, 1979 – St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, USA
   “Holy Spirit”
4. December 2-7, 1980 Rome, Italy
   “Authority, Moral Decisions, Marriage” – HONOLULU REPORT (1981) – REPORT

CO-CHAIRS

Bishop William R. Cannon, Bishop of Atlanta, Georgia, USA (M)
Rt. Rev. J. Francis Stafford, Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, Maryland, USA (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Joe Hale, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Canon William A. Purdy, Vatican (RC)

FOURTH SERIES (1982-1986)

MEETINGS

1. October 17-22, 1982 – Reuti-Hasliberg, Switzerland
   “Reorganization and Planning. Sign and Sacrament; Church and Sacrament; The Word and the Church; The Local Church”
2. October 28- November 4, 1983 – Milan, Italy
   “The Nature and Structures of the Church”
3. October 26 – November 2, 1984 – Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA
   “Leadership in the Church; Quest for Christian Unity”
4. October 25 – November 1, 1985 – Venice, Italy
   “Role of Leadership in the Church “- NAIROBI REPORT (1986): “TOWARDS A STATEMENT ON THE CHURCH” – REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Bishop William R. Cannon, Bishop of Atlanta, Georgia, USA (M)
Most. Rev. J. Francis Stafford, Bishop of Memphis, Tennessee, USA (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Joe Hale, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr. Richard Stewart, Vatican (1982-1984) (RC)
Rev. Kevin McDonald, Vatican (1985-1986) (RC)

FIFTH SERIES (1986-1991)

MEETINGS

1. February 15-20, 1988 – Lisbon, Portugal
   “Apostolic Teaching, Transmission and Reception”
2. February 6-11, 1989 – Venice, Italy
   “Apostolic Tradition: Its Teaching, Transmission and Reception; Ministry and Ministries Serving within the Apostolic Tradition”
3. February 7-13, 1990 – Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA
   “Apostolic Tradition: Its Teaching, Transmission and Reception; Ministry and Ministries Serving within the Apostolic Tradition”
4. April 10-16, 1991 – Paris, France
   “Apostolic Tradition: Its Teaching, Transmission and Reception; Ministry and Ministries Serving within the Apostolic Tradition” – SINGAPORE REPORT (1991): “THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION” – REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Geoffrey Wainwright, Durham, North Carolina, USA (M)
Most Rev. James W. Malone, Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, USA (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Joe Hale, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr. Kevin McDonald, Vatican (RC)

SIXTH SERIES (1992-1996)

1. October 25-31, 1992 – Vienna, Austria
   “Reorganization and Planning”
2. October 16-23, 1993 – Venice, Italy
   “Revelation and Faith, Doctrine, Mission and Sacramental Life”
3. November 5-12, 1994 – Savannah, Georgia, USA
   “Revelation and Faith, Doctrine, Mission and Sacramental Life”
4. October 20-27, 1995 – Baar, Switzerland
   “Revelation and Faith, Doctrine, Mission and Sacramental Life” – RIO DE JANEIRO REPORT (1996): “THE WORD OF LIFE. A STATEMENT ON REVELATION AND FAITH” – REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Geoffrey Wainwright, Durham, North Carolina, USA (M)
Most Rev. James W. Malone, Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, USA (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Joe Hale, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr. Kevin McDonald, Vatican (1992-1993) (RC)
Rev. Timothy Galligan, Vatican (1993-1996 ) (RC)

SEVENTH SERIES (1997-2000)

1. November 9-15, 1997 – Venice, Italy
   “Teaching Authority and Discernment in the Church”
2. October 23-30, 1998 – Paris, France
   “Teaching Authority and Discernment in the Church”
3. October 22-29, 1999 – Jerusalem, Israel
   “Teaching Authority and Discernment in the Church”
4. October 20-27, 2000 – St Simon’s Island, Georgia, USA
   “Teaching Authority and Discernment in the Church. Completion of Report for presentation at 2001 World
   Methodist Conference” – BRIGHTON REPORT (2001): “SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE: TEACHING AUTHORITY AMONG CATHOLICS AND METHODISTS” – REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Geoffrey Wainwright, Durham, North Carolina, USA (M)
Rt. Rev. Michael E. Putney, Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, Australia (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Joe Hale, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr Timothy Galligan, Vatican (RC)

EIGHTH SERIES (2002-2006)

1. October 25 – November 1, 2002 – Klingenthal, France
   “How Catholics and Methodists see and interpret each other ecclesially”
2. October 24-31, 2003 – York, England
   “How Catholics and Methodists see and interpret each other ecclesially”
3. October 22-29, 2004 – Krakow, Poland
   “To what extent can Methodists and Catholics have a common understanding of the Church; How can each recognize in the other the Church of Jesus Christ; Signaling areas where each sees the other as lacking and potentially gaining from an ‘exchange of gifts’”
4. October 21-28, 2005 – Klosterneuburg (Vienna), Austria
   “Work on report on the Nature of the Church” – SEOUL REPORT (2006): THE GRACE GIVEN YOU IN CHRIST: CATHOLICS AND METHODISTS REFLECT FURTHER ON THE CHURCH and COMMENTARY* July 23, 2006 – Seoul, South Korea
   Official Common Affirmation signed by Representatives of the Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Federation
   and the World Methodist Council – OFFICIAL COMMON AFFIRMATION

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Geoffrey Wainwright, Durham, North Carolina, USA (M)
Rt. Rev. Michael E. Putney, Bishop of Townsville, Australia (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. George Freeman, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr. Mark Langham, Vatican (RC)

NINTH SERIES (2007-2011)

1. October 26 – November 2, 2007 – Bose, Italy
   “Work begins of church and sacraments and synthesis report of the history of the dialogue”
2. October 31 – November 7, 2008 – Dublin, Ireland
   “Work continued on the theme of sacramentality looking at Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry in the light of the Paschal Mystery. The meeting also examined a draft of the synthesis document”
3. November 13-20, 2009 – Boston, Massachusetts
   “Draft chapters for the proposed document: Encountering Christ the Saviour: Church and Sacraments, were presented and revised. Work continued on the synthesis document”** Easter 2010
   SYNTHESIS. TOGETHER TO HOLINESS. 40 YEARS OF METHODIST AND ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE
4. October 29 – November 5, 2010 – Fulda, Germany
   “Work continued to finalise the text of ‘Encountering Christ the Saviour: Church and Sacraments’ – DURBAN REPORT (2014): ENCOUNTERING CHRIST THE SAVIOUR: CHURCH AND SACRAMENTS and COMMENT

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Geoffrey Wainwright, Durham, North Carolina, USA (M)
Rt. Rev. Michael E. Putney, Bishop of Townsville, Australia (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. George Freeman, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA (M)
Msgr. Mark Langham, Vatican (RC)

TENTH SERIES (2012-2017)

1. October 12-19, 2012 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
   “Work begins on the themes ‘Common Call to Holiness’; means of holiness; traditions of holiness; holy living and the communion of saints”
2. October 2013 – Norcross, Georgia
   “Work continued on the theme of holiness in relation to Christian eschatology, anthropology, grace and social justice”
3. October 10-17, 2014 – Assisi, Italy
   “Work continued on the theme of holiness and a schema was agreed for a document with the proposed title, ‘The Call to Holiness: Through Grace to Glory’”
4. March 16-20, 2015 – Boston, Massachusetts
   “A drafting group met to collate and edit draft chapters received from members of the commission”
5. October 9-15, 2015 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
   “The commission worked on the proposed draft of ‘The Call to Holiness: from Glory to Glory’”
6. February 7-11, 2016 – Rome, Italy
   “Finalizing the Report, “HOUSTON REPORT (2017): “THE CALL TO HOLINESS: FROM GLORY TO GLORY” – REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Dr. David M. Chapman, UK (M)
Rt. Rev. Michael E. Putney, Bishop of Townsville, Australia (RC) (2012)
Rt. Rev. Donald Bolen, Archbishop of Regina, Canada (RC) (from 2013)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield-Tucker, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (M)
Rev. Anthony Currer, Vatican (RC)

ELEVENTH SERIES (2017-2022)

1. October 15-22, 2017 – Palazzola, Italy
   “Work began on the theme of reconciliation as it relates to the unity of the Church”
2. October 12-19, 2018 – Hong Kong, China
   “Reconciliation as this relates in particular to the unity of the Church”
3. October 11-18, 2019 – Nairobi, Kenya
   “Draft chapters were read on Reconciliation as it relates to soteriology, church structures, Christian unity and the Church’s mission”** October 26-28 March, 2019 – South Bend, Indiana (USA)
   Consultation of the signers of the JDDJ – (The World Methodist Council affirmed JDDJ in 2006; the Anglican Communion in 2016; and the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 2017)

   March 3-7, 2020 – Durham, North Carolina (USA)
   “Drafting committee meeting in preparation of the plenary commission meeting working on the theme of reconciliation: reconciliation as a model of salvation; the structures of our respective churches as means of reconciliation, holding the faithful in unity whilst allowing and reconciling legitimate diversity; the rites of reconciliation practised by both communions; the Church’s mission of reconciliation to the world”

4. October 9-16, 2020 – Jerusalem, Israel
   “Work on the report God in Christ Reconciling”
5. 2022 – Gothenburg, Sweden
   “Release of the Report: God in Christ Reconciling: On the Way to Full Communion in Faith, Sacraments, and Mission” REPORT and COMMENTARY

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Dr. David M. Chapman, UK (M)
Rt. Rev. Donald Bolen, Archbishop of Regina, Canada (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield-Tucker, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (M)
Rev. Anthony Currer, Vatican (RC)

TWELFTH SERIES (2017-2027)

1. October 2-8, 2022 – Rome, Italy
   “Themes presented in papers on: scripture texts from John 17 and Acts 15; the Missio Dei; hearing the cry of the poor;the Council of Nicaea; synodal and conferencing practices within our communions; the implications of mission for belief; recognition; the Wesleyan essentials;and the hierarchy of truths. On the basis of these contributions,the Commission developed a schema for its future work which will seek to charta pathway towards unitywith a missiological lens, taking account of the theological convergence that the dialogue has already achieved.”
2. October 30-November 3, 2023 – Rome, Italy
   “With the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025, the Commission resolved to publish an updated version of Together to Holiness, a synthesis document of the Commission’s work from 1967-2006, adding further material from the Commission’s three subsequent reports from 2011, 2016, and 2022. This revised synthesis document will redemonstrate the unity already shared by Methodists and Catholics through their common baptism and shared Christian faith. In light of the Church’s calling to preach the Good News, the Commission also held long discussions on the theme of communion and explored the nature and meaning of unity and diversity within the Church. In light of the Church’s calling to preach the Good News, the Commission also held long discussions on the theme of communion and explored the nature and meaning of unity and diversity within the Church. Several papers on models of unity, drawing from the experiences of Catholics and Methodists, were presented, serving as tools to explore important issues of communion. Furthermore, the Commission held discussions on the principles of dialogue, examining what principles Methodists and Catholics must hold in common as they approach greater and fuller unity. From the plenary, the Commission through its Executive Committee set forth a plan to chart the Commission’s work during the next years. The plan calls for further work on the context of mission and unity, the Missio Dei and ecclesiology, and mission and its practical implications.”
3. September 22-27, 2024 – Seoul, South Korea
   “Continuing reflection on the theme of mission and unity, working groups of the Commission will draft chapters on the common faith of Methodists and Catholics, growth in mutual recognition, the diversity of experiences of communion, and proposals for greater communion between Catholics and Methodists; the Commission worked on the revision of its 2010 publication, Together to Holiness, in order to include material from the three MERCIC reports published in the intervening period. It is hoped to publish the revised document in 2025 as a contribution to the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council” COMMUNIQUÉ

CO-CHAIRS

Rev. Prof. Edgardo A. Colón-Emeric, USA (M)
Bishop Shane Mackinlay, Australia (RC)

CO-SECRETARIES

Reverend Matthew A. Laferty, Methodist Ecumenical Office, Rome (M)
Rev. Martin Browne, osb, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Rome (RC)