30 June 2010
New President and Vice-President Designate elected
The Revd Lionel Osborn has been elected President Designate of
the Methodist Conference for 2010-2011 and Ruth Pickles has been
elected Vice-President Designate. The elections were announced at
the annual Methodist Conference in Portsmouth.
Lionel - called Leo by his many friends - has been Chair of the
Newcastle-upon-Tyne District for the past nine years and recently
been nominated to serve on The World Methodist Council. He also
serves as Convenor of The Stationing Action Group, Chairs the
Ecumenical Committee for North East Christian Churches Together and
the Oversight Committee at The Wesley Study Centre Durham.
"It is a great honour as well as a great shock to be elected as
President Designate," said Leo. "But I am looking forward to all
that lies ahead. In my year of presidency, it will be a delight and
a privilege to encourage signs of the kingdom and Christians in
their discipleship, especially in their care for others. I am
excited about being a Methodist today as I see all that God is
still doing among us."
Leo seeks to enable both Fresh and Refreshed Expressions of Church
from a personal faith rooted in worship Word and Sacrament.
Ruth has been a teacher, residential social worker, alcohol
counsellor and District Training and Development officer. As a
local preacher in the Mow Cop, Biddulph and Congleton Circuit she
enjoys leading participatory worship. She has served on the
Methodist Council and as a former Memorials Secretary to the
Conference. She is currently Synod Secretary of the Chester and
Stoke-on-Trent District.
"I feel it's a real privilege to be elected Vice-President
Designate," said Ruth. "It's very exciting to have this opportunity
to play a part in the life of a changing Church. I would hope to be
able to build on the work of the current Vice-President. I am
passionate about there being a learning Church and the difference
that new insights can bring."
Leo and Ruth will be inducted as President and Vice-President as
the first items of business at the 2011 Methodist Conference in
Southport.