THE Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council (WMC) met in Port Elizabeth, South Africa recently.


A major step forward was the approval of two proposals brought by the Structure Working Group. These set out clear procedures for nominating and electing people for various posts in the WMC, and also define more precisely the role and responsibilities of the officers.


During the four-day meeting, members caught again a sense of the vitality of world Methodism. The WMC Chairman, His Eminence Sunday M'bang from Nigeria, in his opening address, surveyed several issues that were discussed later in the agenda - the continuing call to evangelism and renewal, the challenge of the Aids pandemic; the dangers of division in the church over homosexuality; the urgency of prayer for peace in the Middle East and in Iraq; relations with Islam; ecumenical conversations with the Salvation Army; and the plans for the next world conference.

The plans for the World Methodist Conference to be held in Seoul, Korea in 2006 were presented by Ms Gillian Kingston, from Ireland, the Programme Committee Chairman, and there was a growing sense of expectation for that event.

The Executive Committee had to make some hard decisions about money. The full Council, meeting in Brighton, England in 2001, had approved the setting up of an endowment fund to provide a regular income flow to cover the ongoing expenses of maintaining the headquarters staff at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina, the US.

REV DR JOHN BARRETT:
The Executive Committee
had to make some
hard decisions.

So far the appeal to member churches and individuals has produced US$3m (S$4.95 million) with a similar amount pledged for future giving.


But this is considerably less than was anticipated at this stage, and as a result the Executive Committee approved a resolution from the Finance Committee that the next Council be asked to approve a reduction in staffing. The suggestion is that the Geneva Secretary post becomes part time from 2006.


The meeting ended on a high note, with a rousing address by Dr Eddie Fox, the WMC Director of Evangelism.


For those who could stay on, there was the bonus of attending a moving Ordination Service, punctuated by lively and infectiously rhythmical singing, in which 25 new pastors were ordained.


The WMC links together all churches in the world-wide Methodist family. At present there are more than 37 million members belonging to nearly 80 churches in 132 countries. The WMC Executive Committee has representatives from each of these churches - about 150 people in total - and meets roughly every two years.

The Rev Dr John Barrett, Principal of the new Anglo-Chinese School (International), which will open in the New Year, is Vice-Chairman of the World Methodist Council.