GC decides on major decisions and elects key officers

9^TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE: SEPT 8-13, 2008

GC decides on major decisions and elects key officers

A general view of the 9^th Session of the General Conference. – Methodist Message picture by DANIEL LIE.

STORIES BY PETER TEO

THE General Conference (GC) of The Methodist Church in Singapore has taken several significant decisions during the first part of its 9^th Session from Sept 8 to 13, 2008.

The GC – the highest policy-making body of the Church – approved the new Episcopal remuneration package, which will be implemented from the 9^th Quadrennium onwards.

Under the package, the newly-elected bishop will receive:

A salary following the salary of the Annual Conference to which he belongs;
The current episcopal and housing allowances; and
A transport allowance based on the practice of the Annual Conference to which he belongs.

The GC also endorsed the setting up of a Council of Governance for the policy-making body, the formation of a Board of Governance for each of the three Annual Conferences, and Church Governance Committees in the Local Churches.

This is to comply with the requirements of the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) issued by the Charity Council on Nov 26, 2007.

The GC shall elect a chairman for the Council of Governance, and the Council shall have not less than two and not more than six lay persons who shall be the other members of the Council.

Key office-bearers of the Church were elected in September before the 9^th Session was adjourned to Dec 4 and 5 for a few remaining church business items and the election of a bishop.

Mr Chan Fook Kay was elected as the new Finance and Administration Council (FAC) Chairman.

Three other key positions filled were: The Secretary of the Trustees of The Methodist Church in Singapore – Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim – (re-elected); General Secretary – Mr Lim Soo Chin (re-elected); and Treasurer – Mr Chan Kum Kit (re-elected).

The Methodist Missions Society has a new Chairman – Mr Chou Fang Soon – and so has DISCIPLE Agency – the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat.

All church members are urged to continue praying for the 9^th Session of the General Conference, which will resume at Methodist Centre on Dec 4 and 5 at 9 am.