SIBU – The first General Conference Executive Council (GCEC) meeting of The Methodist Church in Malaysia (MCM) for the new quadrennium (2009-2012) was held from Feb 12 to 14 in Sibu under the leadership of Bishop Dr Hwa Yung.
Among some of the matters discussed and decisions made were the following:
The MCM will develop four areas of ministry for the future – Evangelism and Church Planting, Discipleship and Pastoral Work, Church and Society, and Missions.
The second meeting on the long-term goals will be held from June 29 to July 1 in Sabah.
Two other events were also listed on the calendar: The Methodist Pastors’ Retreat will be held in Sibu from April 24 to 30, 2010, and the Methodist Prayer Convention will be held from April 30 to May 1, 2011, also in Sibu.
The GCEC also discussed the possibility of combining efforts between Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) and Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL) to work towards a Methodist University College.
The Book of Discipline will be translated into Chinese with the Rev Yau Kah Fatt as Editor-in-Chief assisted by the Rev Ling Tung Kiing and the Rev Shia Siek Hing. It is expected to be published in 2010.
The General Conference will also publish booklets on the Methodist Small Group Ministry, Methodist Doctrines, and Methodist Worship.
Close to 25 members attended the GCEC meeting including all the Presidents from the six Annual Conferences. – Connection, the English publication of The Chinese Methodist Message (Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference).
