Highlights and Invitation for Journalists - Methodist Conference 2016

The Methodist Conference 2016 is meeting to discussmatters affecting the life of the Church, the nation and the worldat Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, in London from 30 June to 7July.

Press releases on featured topics will be posted on theMethodist Church website during the Conference.

Highlights include:

• The induction of the new President andVice-President and the opening of the Representative Session of theConference: Saturday 2 July, 2:15pm.
• A discussion on the ethics ofinvestment: Saturday 2 July, 4:50pm.
• The receiving of new ministers into Full Connexion andordination services: Sunday  3July, from 10:45am.
• A report from 3Generate, the Methodist Children &Youth Conference:  Monday 29 June,4:50pm.
• The Marriage and Relationships Task Groupreport: Tuesday 5 July, 11:30am.
• The Past Cases Review Implementation Groupreport: Wednesday 6 July,11.30pm.
• Various notable lectures given as part of theConference fringe events: Including the Beckly Lecture 'OnLiberty, Conscience and Belief', with guest speaker ShamiChakrabarti, former Director of Liberty.

The Conference is the body that agrees policy for the MethodistChurch. Gathering lay and ordained members, along with a number ofassociate and ecumenical members, the Conference is split into twosessions, beginning with the presbyteral session, exclusively forpresbyters of the Methodist Church, from Thursday 30 June - Friday1 July, concluding with the representative session, from Saturday 2- Thursday 7 July, which is also open to the public.

The representative session will open at 2:15pm on Saturday 2July with the induction of the President of the Conference, theRevd Dr Roger Walton, and the Vice-President, Ms RachelLampard.

Biographies of Roger and Rachel are available here in the Methodist Church press pack2016/2017.

Following Sunday morning worship on 3 July, Methodist presbytersand deacons will be ordained in venues across London. Based onprevious years, it is expected that at least 5,000 people will beattending these weekend celebrations.

A provisional timetable for the representativesession of the Conference is available onlinehere, but may be subjectto change.

Notes:
1. The timetable, agendas, live stream of the eventand more information is available on the Methodist Conferencewebsite.
2. You can follow the Conference conversation onTwitter via  #methodistconf and byfollowing@MethodistGB. Pleasenote that the comments and opinions do not necessarily representthe Methodist Church's views or position.
3. Photos ofthe President-Designate and Vice-President Designate are available onthe Methodist Media Flickr Stream here.