The Methodist Church in Ireland has approved a draft covenant between it and the Church of Ireland at its annual conference, currently taking place in Enniskillen.
The covenant, which was approved by a substantial majority at the Methodist conference, was approved as enthusiastically at the General Synod of the Church of Ireland in Dublin last month.
The Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, attended the Methodist Conference on Saturday and spoke of his own close family links with that church. His father had been a Methodist minister.
Also there was the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Rev Harold Miller. He spoke about his mother, who was a Methodist. The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Alastair Dunlop, was also present.
The decision of the conference clears the way for the setting-up of advisory groups to discuss mutual issues, such as attitudes to ministry, shared theology, and the sharing of facilities.
Following a debate on the report from the church's Council for Social Responsibility, the conference agreed a statement on the current unrest in east Belfast. It expressed "deep concern" at what is taking place there and the "traumatising effects" on local communities. Acknowledging the efforts of local church and community leaders to find a peaceful solution to problems there, it called on the loyalist and republican movements to "exercise responsibility by encouraging their own people to end sectarian attacks."
It continued: "Realising that there are those within the Unionist community who lack confidence in the peace process, the confernece calls on the republican movement to seek to build confidence with their Unionist neighbours in order to encourage an inclusive democratic society built on the values of truth and justice for all."
The conference is taking place at Darling Street Methodist Church in Enniskillen.
In a statement yesterday, preceding the Presbyterian General Assembly which begins in Belfast this evening, the Moderator Dr Dunlop called on the church to get involved "in genuine engagement with the community."