Page "Apostolic succession" Paragraph 22

The 1937 British Methodist Conference located the " true continuity " with the Church of past ages in " the continuity of Christian experience, the fellowship in the gift of the one Spirit ; in the continuity in the allegiance to one Lord, the continued proclamation of the message ; the continued acceptance of the mission ;..." a long chain which goes back to the " the first disciples in the company of the Lord Himself ...

This is our doctrine of apostolic succession " neither depends on, nor is secured by, " an official succession of ministers, whether bishops or presbyters, from apostolic times, but rather by fidelity to apostolic truth ".