Wednesday: A Recap (continued)

The day’s proceedings began in worshipful mode with a communion service. Revd. David Gamble (our outgoing president) led the service, emphasizing the point that communion is an inclusive thing, and that no Christian should be kept from receiving it.

Following communion, delegates set about looking at major issues in our working relationships, so as to facilitate future planning and policies.

The first speaker of the day was Ivan Abrahams, presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of South Africa. Ivan’s talk covered three issues: money, people exchange, and church-to-church relationships. After a very busy morning, there was some respite in the afternoon, during which some delegates went on a visit to Wesley’s Chapel.

For two regions, the day’s discussions had led to some major breakthroughs. When we gathered together again in the evening, we were presented with two joint statements. The first was from the Council of Latin American & Caribbean Methodist Churches, read by Bishop Moises Valderrama (their president). The full text of that report has already been posted elsewhere on this blog.

The second came from leaders from the Indian sub-continent: the Church of South India, Church of North India, Church of Pakistan, Church of Bangladesh and the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka – all represented by Bishop Kumar, moderator of the Church of South India.

Bishop Kumar told us of how their being together here had given them the opportunity to meet together and discuss ways of moving forward together. As a result, the Indian churches now plan to visit Pakistan in November, with the Pakistan church making a return visit in 2011. The South India and Sri Lanka churches have also made a commitment to work together on issues of reconciliation and restoration arising from the civil war and the 2004 tsunami.