10 July 2008
Methodist Conference 2008 Roundup
The Methodist Conference met from 5-10 July in
Scarborough. Revd Stephen Poxon was inducted at President of the
Conference, and Mr. David Walton as Vice President. Conference also
ordained 55 new Methodist ministers (50 Presbyters and five
Deacons).
Conference addressed a number of contemporary issues, including
knife crime, Burma, Zimbabwe, stem cell research and
abortion.
Time was spent looking at the Youth Participation Strategy (YPS),
a major new initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of
people aged 16-23 in the running of the Church both nationally and
locally. The YPS will see an investment of more than £4 million
over the next five years. The Youth Conference also brought its
concerns, including knife crime, Burma and the pressures on young
people combining church activities with further education or
work.
Conference also committed the Church to fresh ways of expressing
its mission. The successful Fresh Expressions scheme, a joint
venture with the Church of England, has been renewed by both
churches for a further five years. The Methodist Conference also
gave its support to a new Pioneer Ministries scheme, in which the
Church will invest over £4 million to establish new congregations
across the country, aimed especially at young adults and those who
have had no prior contact with any form of church.
Conference received a major report on early human life, looking at
issues such as stem cell research, fertility treatments and
abortion. The report offers guidance on how to approach these
complex and often highly personal topics. It also recognises that
attempts to respond to particular medical developments can easily
be quickly out of date as the technology moves on. Conference has
commended for study the report which says that embryos should not
be created solely for the purpose of research, but that it is
acceptable for embryos created during fertility treatments to be
used for research. The Conference also voted to review the Church's
current stance on abortion.
Conference affirmed the Covenant with the Church of England,
signed in 2003, and supported the creation of a new body to
continue the work of implementing it. This new body will for the
first time include representation from the Church in Wales and the
Scottish Episcopal Church, in recognition that the Methodist Church
serves all of Great Britain. The United Reformed Church will also
be invited to continue to participate. Conference offered prayer
and support to the Church of England's General Synod (meeting
almost simultaneously in York) as it addressed major issues.
For the first time, live video of Conference proceedings was
broadcast via the Conference website, and a video archive is also
available. Live audio was also broadcast in partnership with
Premier Christian Radio. Conference also elected its President and
Vice-President for 2009-10. The Revd David Gamble were designated
to serve as President and Dr Richard Vautrey as Vice President at
next year's Conference.