01 June 2010
Methodist Conference comes to Portsmouth
This year's Methodist Conference will meet in Portsmouth, from
26 June to 1 July. The Conference is the governing body of the
Methodist Church and is also a festival of celebration, worship and
friendship.
More than 300 representatives from British Methodism and partner
churches across the world will gather at the Portsmouth Guildhall,
and will be joined by hundreds of visitors over the opening
weekend.
Revd Dr Andrew Wood, Chair of the regional Methodist district,
said: "We're so pleased that this year's Conference will be held in
Portsmouth. Methodism has a long history in Portsmouth we hope that
people who come to the Conference will I enjoy the fusion of old
and new in the city. The Conference is held in a different place
each year and we've been waiting a long time to show off all that
the area has to offer." The Conference was last held in Portsmouth
in 1987. As part of the opening ceremonies Cllr Paula Riches, the
Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, will welcome the Conference to the
city.
The representative session of the Conference will open on Saturday
26 June with the celebration and induction of the new President,
the Revd Alison Tomlin, and the new Vice-President, Deacon Eunice
Atwood, at the start of their year in office. New Methodist
ministers will be ordained in venues across Hampshire and West
Sussex, including Winchester Cathedral.
Hot topics for debate this year include racism, nuclear weapons and
Israel-Palestine, and the Conference will also celebrate 150 years
of the Methodist chaplaincy to the armed forces. On Tuesday 29
June, the Conference will be addressed by the Most Reverend and
Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury,
following a discussion about the Anglican-Methodist Covenant.
For those unable to attend the Conference, live video of the
proceedings will be shown on the Internet throughout the event via
the Conference website - www.methodistconference.org.uk.
As well being able to listen to the discussions online as in
previous years (in partnership with Premier Christian Radio),
people will also be able to watch the debates as they unfold.
The audio and video files will also be available to download later
from the Conference website for those who aren't able to catch them
live. The Methodist media team will also offer regular updates on
Conference discussions and decisions through micro-blogging website
Twitter. Follow the feed via @methodistmedia.