The DPCU represented at the World Methodist Conference

The twenty-second World Methodist Conference took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 14 to 18 August 2024. The conference brought together representatives of approximately eighty Methodist, Wesleyan and United/Uniting Churches from around the world, for a programme of worship, fellowship and Christian education. The conference theme of “On the move”, was explored under three headings: Migration, Pilgrimage and Guiding Lights.

The conference was preceded by a meeting of the World Methodist Council (WMC), during which a new President, Vice-President and General Secretary were elected. During the closing service on Sunday 18 August, twenty pastors and ten deacons were ordained, and the new President and Vice-President consecrated, for the host church, the Uniting Church in Sweden.

Fr Martin Browne OSB, the official of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity responsible for relations with worldwide Methodism, was an invited guest at the Conference. Alongside other ecumenical guests, he participated in a panel discussion on Christian Unity during the plenary session on Friday 16 August. At the beginning of the session, he read a Greeting from the Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Kurt Koch.

The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity extends congratulations and prayerful good wishes to the new leadership of the World Methodist Council, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett (President), Mr Joshua Rathnam (Vice-President) and Revd Reynaldo Ferreira Leão-Neto (General Secretary).