05 April 2014
Methodist General Secretary to step down in 2015
The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist
Church and Secretary of the Methodist Conference today announced
his intention to step down from his current post in August
2015.
Dr Atkins shared this news at a meeting of the Methodist Council
today in Leamington Spa. His full statement follows:
"I will be leaving my current post as Secretary of the Conference
and General Secretary at the end of the next Connexional year,
2014-15. I have requested the permission of the President of the
Conference to this effect, and she has kindly agreed. By that
time, God willing, I will have served in this appointment for seven
years, and will have reached the age of 60, enabling me to offer a
handful of years to a further appointment of some sort prior to
retirement. My decision has been made over a period of time, in a
spirit of prayerful discernment and arising from conversations with
a small number of people, not least my wife, Helen.
"Many months of hard work still lie ahead and the Council can be
assured that I intend to continue to undertake my responsibilities
as best I can and with integrity, vigour and passion: indeed there
may well now be an even greater sense of urgency about my work in
relation to those issues about which I believe progress and
transformation is critical to the life of our Connexion at the
present time. This work will continue to be enabled by my close
colleagues who are among the finest and hardworking people it has
been my pleasure to know, and to whom the Connexion and this
Council should rightly be proud and care for.
"It has been - and will remain for some time yet - a deep
privilege to serve Christ, among the people called Methodists and
beyond, through this significant appointment.
"Thank you."
"There will be an appropriate time for tribute and reflection,"
added Connexional Secretary Doug Swanney, "but for now I hope that
people will join with us in praying for Martyn and Helen as they
take the next steps on their journey of discipleship. We are hugely
grateful for Martyn's faithful service to the Church and look
forward to seeing what more he will bring in the final year of his
work in this role."
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1. A selection of high resolution photos of Martyn is available
online
here.
2. The Methodist Council is meeting at Leamington Spa, 5-7 April.
The Council papers are available online here.