In just a month’s time, the Methodist Conference 2004 will be commenced. The Methodist Church of Great Britain is now focussed on preparing for the event. In particular, Methodists are concerned about the outcome of a major report in the conference which will have a determinative effect on the future plan and direction of the church.

Following up the consultation document entitled “Where are we heading?” widely circulated throughout the Connexion at the end of last year, the major report to the conference embodies “Priorities for the Methodist Church” in an attempt to provide an elementary answer to the question.

The face of Christianity in the UK has changed a lot throughout the past few years. Methodism, which has its home in the Great Britain and has contributed greatly to the development of Christianity over history, is now facing the challenge at the frontline.

In the report, Methodists addressed a realisation to change in order to fit into today’s community. The report says there are signals of hope, a willingness to take risks and creative actions inspired by the Gospel in many places throughout the Connexion.

Acknowledging the desire for change of the Methodist congregation during his travels, President of last year's Conference, Rev Ian White, Chair of the Channel Islands District and former Chair of the Bristol District welcomed the report.

“The challenge was how to harness this sense of urgency described in the report and the direction it would take,” he added.

Meanwhile, "If My People - A Call to Prayer" event is launched on 22 May, which is a national call to prayer for Methodist people in England. The secretary for Evangelism and Church Planting in the Methodist Church Connexional Team, the Rev Graham Horsley said it is a drive to seek God's guidance for the major decision-making process in the coming 2004 Conference.

The event will be a day of praying for the future vision and mission of the Church and will be held at Nottingham Central Hall on May 22nd 2004. The inspiration for it came from the Rev Ashley Cooper, the District evangelism enabler for Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District.

Mr Cooper "felt there was an awful lot of strategic planning and consultation about planning going on in the Church, but not enough seeking guidance from God."

The Ex-President of the conference, Rev Ian White said there may be an area for debate on the change, the Methodists eagerly seek the guidance to overcome this situation. Once again, he stressed that, “It is also important to note that Methodism is in a state of constant change as people discover what being a church is to their community or region. Living and working with change may well become one of the outstanding contributions Methodism in Britain can share with the wider Church."

The Methodist Conference 2004 will be held from 26 June to 1 July at Loughborough University.