In the 1960s, the Methodist Church made ecumenical overtures to the Church of England, aimed at church unity. In February 1963, a report, "Conversations between the Church of England and the Methodist Church", was published. This gave an outline of a scheme to unite the two churches. The scheme was not without opposition, for four Methodist representatives – Barrett, Meadley, Snaith and Jessop – issued a dissentient report. Through much of the 1960s, controversy spread in the two churches. Central in the debate was the need for Methodist ministers to be ordained under the Anglican historical episcopate, which opponents characterised as "reordination" of Methodist ministers.