The 22nd World Methodist Conference is set to begin
The five-yearly gathering brings together the global family of Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches
August 12, 2024
The 22nd World Methodist Conference is set to begin later today, 13 August, in the beautiful Swedish city of Gothenburg.
The Uniting Church in Australia will have a strong presence at the Conference with 10 delegates attending alongside Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli. The President has been invited to speak on a panel about intercultural ministry and to take part in the closing worship of the Conference, commissioning new office bearers for the World Methodist Council.
The WMC is the five-yearly conference of the World Methodist Council which is made up of more than 80 different churches representing more than 82 million people in 132 countries. It brings together this global family of Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches to deepen faith, identify the contours of future ministry and to set the direction for the World Methodist Council for the next five years.
We're excited that the Uniting Church delegates will be taking over the Uniting Church in Australia Facebook page for the week of the WMC, sharing photos, highlights and decisions with the wider UCA directly from Sweden. Make sure you're following!
Please pray for the Conference and for our delegates as they travel to and from Sweden, connect with old and new friends in our global family and make their unique contributions to this body of Christ.
Follow official communications from the World Methodist Council on Facebook and on the website.
"The Council and Conference helps me reflect upon the Wesleyan roots of the UCA, centring around God's unconditional grace and call to social justice and evangelism"
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Uniting Church delegates
The Uniting Church delegates to the WMC are: President Rev Charissa Suli, Rev Ann Perrin, Rev Lyn Burden, Isabel Thomas Dobson, Rev Kevin Dobson, Richard La'Brooy, Joyce Tangi, Dr Deidre Palmer, Rev Viniana Ravetali, Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler and Rev Prof Glen O'Brien.
Read below as some of our delegates share their hopes for the Conference.

Richard La'Brooy
I’m looking forward to being a part of the World Methodist Conference in Sweden. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with people from across the globe and understand different expressions of Methodism worldwide. As a Chaplain at a former Methodist, now Uniting Church, School I know the profound impact the Methodist movement has had in Australia, and I am looking forward to seeing what that looks like in the 21st Century.

Isabel Thomas Dobson

Rev Kevin Dobson

Dr Deidre Palmer
I am looking forward to being part of this global gathering of Christians, sharing our hopes and challenges, and drawing strength and wisdom from their witness to Christ’s love, justice and reconciliation.

Rev Ann Perrin

Rev Lynette Burden

Siosiana (Joyce) Tangi
Throughout the last few months, it has been enriching to join Youthful Delegates from across the world as we journey towards the World Methodist Council. Meeting on zoom once a month, it’s been exciting listening to new stories and meeting new friends. Listening to journeys of discovering peace and justice, from vastly different communities and yet still similar hopes, it emphasises the importance of collective action and finding common ground as young people. There has been an eagerness to pray for each other, share wisdom and support one another as we all come from different parts of the world. I’m excited!

Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler
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