Fisher Cautious About Merger
(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, February 13. Lord Fisher, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, opposes an immediate, complete merger of the Anglican and Methodist churches. It is possible for the Church of England and the Methodist Church to be in full communion wth one another without any thought of merging into one church, he says in a booklet.
Lord Fisher was archbishop at the time of the AnglicanMethodist conversations which resulted in a two-stage proposal for unification of the churches. The first stage envisaged full communion, with the
two churches retaining their separate identities. There was a condition that acceptance of this was a final acceptance of the second stage—a complete merger. “If the Church were to commit themselves now to stage two, I think they would be taking a most unwise leap in the dark.” Lord Fisher says. He continues: “It is far too early yet to foresee what shape the finally reunited Church of England including all the free churches, th'e Roman Catholic Church in England and the Orthodox Church in England will take. “For the Church of England merely to absorb the Methodist Church would benefit nobody and would only add another complication for Methodists of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and for Methodists overseas. “There must first be a long period of quiet digestion, and it is wiser to achieve now the great benefits of full communion.” . Talk With Franco.— General Franco yesterday received in audience Prince Carlos of Bourbon Parma, fiance .of Princess Irene of Holland.— Madrid, February 13.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 11
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256Fisher Cautious About Merger Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 11
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