The 22nd World Methodist Conference held in Gothenburg, Sweden from 14-18 August was hosted by the Uniting Church in Sweden and Danish and Norwegian United Methodist Church, and saw around 1,200 people in attendance. This conference normally takes place every five years but was delayed from 2016 due to COVID-19.
Under the theme ‘On the Move’, the conference recognised that God’s people must move too in order to reach out through service and witness to a world that is also ‘on the move’. Each day the sub-themes of ‘Migration’, ‘Pilgrimage’ and ‘Guiding Lights’ were explored and developed in various sessions.
The Salvation Army delegates joined in a panel with other ecumenical guests from the Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Anglican Communion and Catholic traditions. Revd Tony Franklin-Ross (World Methodist Council (WMC)) invited panellists to explain more about how being salt and light does not stop at our Christian community and at the boundaries of our traditions. Participants brought greetings and touched on creating justice, care of creation, listening and the apostolic faith.
BEYOND FRONTIERS
Commissioner Jane Paone (Secretary for International Ecumenical Relations, International Headquarters) read a greeting from General Lyndon Buckingham and shared how Salvationists’ love and service goes beyond frontiers. It was an exercise in receptive ecumenism, learning from one another as particular gifts were offered and received, and the Faith-sharing New Testament with Psalms (New Revised Standard Version) was recommended as a tool for evangelism.1
The World Methodist Peace Awards honoured the service of two outstanding people: Deaconess Norma Dollaga, from the Philippines, who has struggled for justice in her conflict-ridden homeland; and Bishop Christian Alsted, who has visited Ukraine multiple times during the ongoing conflict with Russia, meeting with pastors and lay leaders, and connecting with ministries that support the internally displaced people of the country.
RICH MOMENTS
As well as rich moments of worship, prayer and Bible teaching, there were numerous sessions presented by those directly involved in various ministries including: ‘Methodist education (how chaplaincy is changing)’; ‘The impact of climate change (from Pacifica)’; ‘Forced migration’; Guarding our souls in times of war – justice, peace and reconciliation (conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East)’; and prayers for the Korean peace pilgrimage. Those from near and far also played an active role during multicultural worship times as God’s people came together as one.
A special ecumenical meal recognised members of the outgoing steering committee of the WMC and welcomed the new President, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, and the new General Secretary, Revd Dr Reynaldo Leão Neto.
Colonel Bo Jeppsson (Territorial Commander, Sweden and Latvia Territory) was also active for the ecumenical day and, along with Major Jon-Anders Marthinussen (Assistant Divisional Commander, Western Division, Sweden and Latvia Territory), joined the capacity gathering for the concluding worship, ordination and communion service, during which 20 deacons and 10 pastors were ordained, along with three others who were accepted into the Uniting Church in Sweden. Clearly, God is ‘on the move’!
