The Methodist Church has moved a step closer to adopting Bishops after voting to receive the report 'What Sort of Bishops' at the annual Conference of the Church. The report commits the Church to make a final decision on the topic in 2007, until which, a process of consultation will be conducted throughout the Church.

The report is one of several being considered at the Conference this year, and looks at the structures of the Methodist Church, including the role of District Chairs, Circuit Superintendents and the Conference itself.

General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Reverend David Deeks, was pleased with the development, stating, "It is important that the Church is organised so that it can be as effective as possible in its mission, and none of the decisions relating to this can be taken lightly. There are many complex biblical, theological and practical issues concerning bishops, and I am sure that there will be widespread and passionate discussion of this before it returns to Conference in 2007."

Points under consideration include whether or not the Church wants to include bishops into its hierarchy. The Methodist Church presently has two ordained orders, ministers and deacons. If the Church votes ‘yes’ it will have to be decided what kind of bishop it wants.

The Church is also considering whether to consecrate only the President of the Conference as a bishop or whether to adopt many more throughout the levels of the Church, envisaging a scenario in which each District could have up to four bishops.

Deeks went on to say, "Although the driving force for the whole review of oversight has been to ensure that the Church is set up for effective mission, we must also take into account our ecumenical relationships, especially the Covenant with the Church of England. Discussing Methodist bishops helps us gain a better understanding of what they mean to the Church of England and other Episcopal partners, and this in turn enables us to work better together. We will only adopt bishops if we feel that it will make a positive difference to the Church’s work in the world."