British Methodist Church to get first General Secretary

LONDON - The Rev David Deeks, 60, has been nominated as General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain.


He will take office as the first appointment to the Church's new-look leadership role this year, subject to the agreement of the Methodist Conference in July 2003.


The Methodist Council has agreed to the nomination of the Rev Deeks, currently Methodist Co-ordinating Secretary for Church & Society, as General Secretary for six years from September 2003.


Last July, the Methodist Conference recommended the appointment of a General Secretary, saying that: "We believe it is now right to give to that person the distinctive role and task of unifying these elements, holding the circle, becoming the crucial link between the Methodist Church as a faith community and as a mission organisation."


The Rev Deeks said of his nomination: "The role of General Secretary is an exciting challenge. My aim will be to help the whole church to grasp a vision for the future and recover its confidence."


The new role will include the responsibilities of the existing office of Secretary of the Methodist Conference. The current Secretary, the Rev Nigel Collinson, is due to retire in August 2003.


The General Secretary is to be given the responsibility of leading a unified management and leadership team incorporating the work currently undertaken by the Methodist Conference Office, the four Co-ordinating Secretaries and the Methodist District Chairs.


The annually appointed President of the Methodist Conference will remain the Methodist Church's most senior minister and spokesman on many issues. - Methodist Church Media Office.