CHURCH leaders in the North-East have defended plans for a covenant between two sets of churches.

Plans to merge the Anglican and Methodist churches have come under fire from some Methodists who fear the partnership will dilute their faith.

They claim the Anglican Methodist Covenant will destroy the churches' separate identities and cause the closure of many churches.

But the Reverend Graham Carter, chairman of Darlington Methodist District, which represents 10,000 Methodists between Durham City and North Yorkshire, says the covenant would strengthen both churches.

He said: "There is a campaign calling for a referendum on whether or not this covenant should happen. But we don't do things by referendum.

"Each church comes to its own decision and so far, out of 200 churches in 19 circuits, we have only had two against the plans."

The campaign for a referendum is supported by Stephen Booth, a Methodist from Galgate, near Lancaster. He claims attempts to block the referendum by some North-East churches are undemocratic.

He said: "Historically, opposition to a similar merger scheme was very strong in the region back in the 1960s."

A similar covenant - the first of its kind in England - was signed last summer between the Archbishop of York, the Right Reverend David Hope and the Reverend Dr Stuart Burgess, chairman of York and Hull Methodist district. The proposals are to go before the Darlington district synod next month.