Methodist connectionalism at work


METHODIST connectionalism is at work in Singapore.


In the last two months alone there have been several events connecting the wider Methodist family here and linking Methodists in Singapore with those in the region and beyond.


From Aug 18 to 24, some 110 bishops, pastors, missionaries, church leaders and church workers from 11 countries, including Singapore, took part in the Chinese Leadership Conference at the YMCA organised by the World Methodist Evangelism Institute (WMEI) of the World Methodist Council and hosted jointly by the WMEI and The Methodist Church in Singapore (see cover story on Page 1). The Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), headed the Singapore Host Committee.


The participants came from the region as well as Britain and the United States. Singapore had a 16-member delegation comprising pastors and leaders from the CAC.


On Aug 27, 25 principals and supervisors of our Methodist church kindergartens and chairmen of kindergarten committees attended their first-ever Tea Fellowship hosted by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon at Sophia Blackmore Hall at Methodist Centre.


The get-together session was marked by a lively sharing of ideas and exchange of views on the management of kindergartens and sharing of resources.


The following morning, principals, teachers and staff of the Methodist schools turned up at Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) for the annual Methodist Schools Staff Get-Together, which recognises their contribution not only to the schools and students but also to the Methodist family (see Page 8).


Later in the same day, about 60 lay leaders from all the three Annual Conferences attended the Bishop's semi-annual Lunch Fellowship at Sophia Blackmore Hall (see Page 9).


Among other topics, the issues of pastoral and lay leadership were discussed.


A Wesleyan authority from the United States, the Rev Dr David Lowes Watson, engaged the participants on the subject "Wesleyan Foundations for Church Leadership" with wit and "solid food", as one of them told Methodist Message.


On Sept 3, about 60 Methodist students of Trinity Theological College (TTC) turned up at the Bishop's Lunch Fellowship at TTC. There were general discussions on Wesleyan principles and student affairs. - PETER TEO.