The Conference
The Methodist Conference
meets annually in June or July, hosted by a different district or
group of districts each year.
It first met in 1744 under John Wesley, who
gathered together his assistants (both ordained ministers and
itinerant lay preachers) to confer together about 'what to teach,
how to teach, and what to do, i.e. how to regulate our doctrine,
discipline and practice.'
The contemporary Conference is a gathering of
representatives from each Methodist district, along with some who
have been elected by the Conference and some ex officio members and
respresentatives of the Youth Assembly.
There is a mixture of lay people, ordained
presbyters and deacons. Presbyters and deacons also have their own
separate gatherings before the main, decision-making session.
The Conference is the body that agrees policy for
the Methodist Church.
Business for the Conference to decide upon is
prepared by the Methodist Council, an elected body that meets
regularly. Memorials to Conference may be sent by districts ahead
of time, and representatives to Conference may introduce Notices of
Motion.
Further information is available about this
year's Conference, for both elected representatives and the general
public. See www.methodistconference.org.uk
More information about Methodist Conference
including Conference Reports archive