Methodist Church

World Methodist Conference to be held in Durban in August

THE 20TH WORLD METHODIST CONFERENCE will be held in Durban, South Africa from Aug 4 to 8 this year.

The theme for the conference is “Jesus Christ – for the Healing of the Nations”. The conference will give participants an opportunity to hear from some of the Church’s leading voices today when they congregate at Durban’s International Convention Centre.

The Methodist Church in Singapore will be represented by a 12-member delegation to be led by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon. e team will include the three Annual Conference Presidents – the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung (Chinese Annual Conference), the Rev James Nagulan (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference), and the Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup (Trinity Annual Conference).

The speakers are Bishop Ivan Abrahams, Presiding Bishop of e Methodist Church of Southern Africa and Co-Chairman of the Social and International Affairs Committee of the World Methodist Council (he is the Host Bishop for the coming conference); the Rev Dr John Barrett, Chairman of the World Methodist Council; Archbishop Elias Chacour, Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and a recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award

in 1994; Dr Mvume Dandala, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and General Secretary of the All Africa Council of Churches; Dr Martyn Atkinis, General Secretary of the British Methodist Church; the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches; Dr Joy Moore, Associate Dean for Black Church Studies and Church Relations and Visiting Professor of Homiletics and the Practice of Ministry at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina; and Dr Claudio Betti, one of the founders of the Community of St Egidio.

There will be keynote addresses, workshops, seminars, worship services, Bible Study sessions and musical presentations.

The conference will open on the morning of Aug 4 with a video presentation on the History of World Methodist Conferences, to be followed by the usual colourful Procession of Banners by representatives of the various participating countries.

The Rev Dr Barrett will lead in the opening worship service, after which Bishop Abrahams and civic leaders will give their welcome addresses.

Dr Dandala will then deliver the first keynote address based on the conference theme, “Jesus Christ – for the Healing of the Nations” to round off the morning’s programme.

In the afternoon, there will be seminars on Ecumenics and Dialogue; Education; Evangelism; Family Life; Social and International Affairs; eological Education; Worship and Liturgy; and Youth and Young Adults.

The conference will close on Aug 8 with the installation of the newly-elected officers of the World Methodist Council, to be followed immediately by a Holy Communion Service. The new Chairman of the council will be the preacher.

[vc_separator]

Nominee to lead World Methodist Council

AN AFRICAN CHURCH LEADER with a strong commitment to mission is the nominee to become the next chief executive of the World Methodist Council (WMC), which is made up of 74 member churches in 132 countries.

Bishop Ivan Abrahams is currently the Presiding Bishop of e Methodist Church of Southern Africa, which covers six countries, including South Africa.

He is the unanimous choice of a search committee to fill the post of General Secretary of the WMC, according to a March 25 announcement from the council offices in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

The election is scheduled for a WMC meeting to be held in Durban, South African, from Aug 1 to 3 this year.

The new General Secretary will succeed the Rev Dr George Freeman, who will be retiring.

The WMC represents 75 million people. When elected, Bishop Abrahams will be the first council general secretary from Africa. – United Methodist News Service.

[vc_separator]

WMC seeks Youth and Young Adult Coordinator

THE WORLD METHODIST COUNCIL (WMC) is looking for a Youth and Young Adult Coordinator to provide continuity of its youth programmes and assist in building leadership among the youth and young adults. is is a part-time position for five years.

Applicants may be up to 35 years of age and have to be active in a member church of the World Methodist Council for at least five years. They should have leadership experience with young people within the church on regional or national levels, and preferably have the ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English, and ability to communicate in at least one other language.

Applications should reach the Rev Dr George H. Freeman, General Secretary, World Methodist Council, P. O. Box 518, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745 USA, by June 15, 2011.

Applications should include: resume or curriculum vitae, supporting letters from an active Bishop/Church President, the candidate’s pastor, and youth or young adult organisation (national, regional, conference).

For full details, please visit www.methodist.org.sg

SHARE THIS POST

Menu