The preparations for the Methodist Conference 2005 are now in full-scale as the event in the summer approaches. The Methodist Conference will be held on 24-30 June in Torquay, UK. Following the latest meeting of the Methodist Council at High Leigh in Hertfordshire, the major topics to be discussed at the Conference were set, according to the Good News UK.
One of the focuses of the Conference will be the mission for students or young people. It was said that the Methodist Council has approved a report recommending that the churches and circuits are the primary location for the Church’s engagement with students. Therefore, the Council has stressed the need for local churches to give student work a high priority and be more flexible in doing youth work, so that more students can be involved.
In addition, a report looking at the works of the 20s and 30s group within the Church has been accepted by the Council. This report is spearheaded by some new mission initiatives in the Church, such as the 11th Commandment competition, the Methodist sponsorship of the Church of Fools online church, and the Mocktails contest. It looked at how the Church can better engage with young people and allow young people to engage with God.
The Ecumenical movement is another highlight of the Conference, particularly regarding the relationship between the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church, in face of the challenges of homosexuality clergy, same-sex union and women bishops within the Anglican Communion worldwide. The growing liberal views on these issues have threatened the Methodist Church and made the Church reconsider whether the ecumenical relationship could be maintained.
The Joint Implementation Group (JIG), a report set up by the Methodist and Anglican churches after they signed their Covenant in November 2003, was received on the meeting of the Methodist Council this time. It will be presented to both the Methodist Conference and the Church of England General Synod this summer.
A wide range of issues such as developing common practices on the bread and wine used in Communion and how the Methodist Diaconal Order and Anglican Deacons can work closer together will be addressed.
