World conference to open
to music of 400-voice choir
Bishop Dr Solomon
named one of 5
keynote speakers
and will lead
Singapore team
By PETER TEO
SEVERAL thousand
Methodist leaders from all parts of the world will gather in Seoul
from July 20-24, 2006 to attend the 19th World Methodist Conference.
The conference will open to the resounding music of a 400-voice
choir and full orchestra from Korean Methodist churches.
Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, who will be leading a Singapore delegation,
will be one of the five keynote speakers at the once-in-five-years
conference. He will address the issue of "Reconciliation
among the Nations" on July 21, the day after the Opening
Ceremony on July 20. According to the Rev Dr George Freeman, General
Secretary of the World Methodist Council, Bishop Dr Solomon is
the first Singaporean ever to have been invited to give a keynote
address at the World Methodist Conference.
The Singapore team will include the Presidents of the three Annual
Conferences - the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot of the Chinese Annual Conference,
the Rev James Nagulan of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, and
the Rev Wee Boon Hup of Trinity Annual Conference.
The Rev Dr Freeman said "all Methodists worldwide have been
invited to join with their Korean Methodist brothers and sisters
in attending this momentous event and in praying with the Korean
Methodists for peace in their land and for the reunification of
the Korean peninsula".
He said: "In response, the Programme Committee for the conference
chose as the theme, 'God in Christ Reconciling.' This theme will
be the focus of our time together each day. We look forward to
the gathering of believers in the Methodist/Wesleyan family and
to the things which God will cause to happen as a result of this
conference."
Mr Michael Tan Soo Guan, from The Methodist Church in Singapore
(a member of Bedok Methodist Church), had designed a logo to represent
the conference theme, "God In Christ Reconciling". The
logo was selected from among entries submitted from around the
world.
The logo embodies the four corners of the
earth in the shape of the cross; symbolising the reconciliation
that God offers all humanity through the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 5: 17-20 provides the scriptural background for
the conference. Keynote speakers and Bible study leaders will
focus on various aspects of reconciliation each day. They include
Father Elias Chacour, educator, author and international speaker
from Galilee, Israel and a recipient of the 1994 World Methodist
Peace Award, the Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, General Secretary of the
All Africa Council of Churches, and the Rev Dr Sam Kobia, General
Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
In his greetings to the world Methodist fraternity in a pre-conference
publicity brochure, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, Chairman of the
World Methodist Council, said: "We pray that your experience
in Korea will be rewarding and that the conference will enable
you and your church to become powerful agents of reconciliation
in the world today.
"The Korean Methodist Church has worked hard to prepare for
the World Methodist family. We look forward to their hospitality
and to being together as a family once again in 2006."
Bishop Kyung Ha Shin, Presiding Bishop of the Korean Methodist
Church, wrote: "For many years the Korean Methodist Church
has been eager to host the family of Methodists and Wesleyans
from around the world. We look forward to serving you while you
are in Korea.
"The theme 'God in Christ Reconciling' is important to
the Korean Methodist family. We ask you to come and pray with
us for the reunification of the Korean peninsula and for peace
in our land.
"Together we will focus our minds, our hearts and our prayers
on reconciliation."
Every session of the conference will be held in the 10,000-seat
Kum Nan Methodist Church. Here in this magnificent edifice, the
facilities lend themselves not only to the participants meeting
together for worship and Bible study, but also provide breakout
rooms for the seminars and smaller group meetings.
During the opening ceremony, the stunning procession of banners
carried by representatives of many of the 130 countries, where
Methodist and Uniting Church Christians live, will wind its way
to the altar. In that impressive moment each member of the conference
is made aware that God has given him or her the once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity of experiencing the church as one body although from
many nations.
From that moment, until the closing ceremony, many opportunities
will be provided for the overseas conference participants to become
better acquainted with fellow Christians.
During those five days they will feel a new wind stirring as they
hear Bible studies and messages brought by Methodist leaders from
Ireland, Kenya, Sri Lanka, the United States, Israel, Korea, South
Africa, Singapore and many other nations calling the conference
to reflect on the theme of Reconciliation: Reconciliation among
the Nations; Reconciliation in Society; Reconciliation in the
Body of Christ; and Reconciliation for the Individual.
Ms Gillian Kingston, Chairman of the Programme Committee, said
that discussion and sharing would take place in seminars and workshops
on crucial issues facing Methodists worldwide: Ecumenics and Dialogue;
Education; World Evangelism; Family Life; Social and International
Affairs; Theological Education; Worship and Liturgy and Youth.
The uniqueness of Christianity will be apparent as participants
gather in seminars on the Saturday afternoon of July 22..
On a daily basis the programme offers a smorgasbord of the cultures
of the world.
For example, on the evening of July 21, 2006, the Korean Methodist
Church will present "Korean Cultural Night" featuring
Korean culture and history through music and dance. The church
will present itself and its worldwide ministries on this night.
This colourful presentation will help bring the conference participants
even closer in understanding their hosts, the Korean Methodist
Church.
The huge Kum Nan Methodist Church in Seoul, venue for the 19th World Methodist Conference.