In spite of some basic differences, Methodists and Roman Catholics have found "large and profound areas of agreement," according to the only American theologian on a four-member committee to summarize three years of discussions between the Methodists and the Catholics.

Dr. Mack B. Stokes, associate dean and professor of theology at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, hopes the committee's report "will open up the churches for shared experiences and dialogues across the board between Catholics and Methodists."

Dr. Stokes and Dr. Gordon Rupp of Great Britain represented the World Methodist Council at the recent meeting in Vatican City in Rome. Canon William Purdy of the Secretariat on Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church and Sister Agnes Cunningham represented the Catholics.

"What we did," Dr. Stokes said, "was to summarize, to bring together the various problems and areas of agreement from the conversations of the past three years. There was no effort to pull any punches.

"The committee also made practical recommendations for study and creative participation at all levels, from the church leaders to the lay members. We made suggestions for concrete involvement with each other.

"There is nothing now which suggests we've reached the stage where we're ready to step into anything like organic union," Dr. Stokes emphasized. "The conversations have served as an important effort to get acquainted and to understand each other better.

"Despite a good many rather basic differences, we found large and profound areas of agreement," he said.

"There is great similarity, for instance, in the way we interpret the Bible as God's Living Word, revealing His purpose and overall objectives for man which come into fulfillment through Christ.

"We have common ways of diagnosing the problems of contemporary culture in which man feels he has lost his way to God.

"We found essential agreement as to the important contributions the Christian community has to offer in spirituality. First, the church is a vehicle through which contemplation and mediation can be provided. Second, it offers compassion, when the world seems to be crying out for deeper ways to express compassion. Third, the Church has something special to offer in community, the corporate awareness of experience and sharing of the Good News.

"Related to these is the real sense of meaning the church offers as the soundest basis for the quest out of the contemporary situation."

Among the areas of disagreement Dr. Stokes mentioned were the scriptural justification for the pontiff, the authenticity of the Methodist ministry, and the meaning of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

"Another problematic area is the use of open communion, receiving all who want to share in the Eucharist. In the Methodist Church, communion is open, but the Catholics have theological difficulties with this."

The committee report will be submitted to the World Methodist Council and the Catholic Secretariat for further discussion and implementation.