Local Methodists to host South Caribbean District Conference

Methodists from the South Caribbean District, one of eight districts of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA), will meet on St Vincent from January 14 to 25, for their district’s 196th Conference, to be hosted by the Kingstown/Chateaubelair Circuit.

The District Conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the church in each district, is being convened under the theme: Renewed in Christ, committed to a new Caribbean. It brings together both lay and ministerial delegates from the district’s 11 circuits in Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Harlem in the USA.

It is held every three years; however, other organs within the church convene in the intervening years between conferences to carry forward the work of the Methodist Church in the District.

At the internal conference sessions, delegates will report on the work and witness of their various circuits; review decisions taken on the strategic directions for the church; and plan for the next three years.

Among the key issues to be addressed is the reorganization of the church in the South Caribbean District in the context of new, phased strategic directions which are currently being implemented.

Elections will also be held for a new secretary, and president to replace Bishop Dr Cuthbert Edwards, who has served his maximum three terms in office.

Ministers will also receive assignments to new stations or be confirmed to remain in the circuits where they currently serve.

While the conference will mainly comprise internal, closed sessions, the public is invited and encouraged to participate in a number of open sessions.

These include morning worship from 7–8 a.m. each day, where presentations will be done on such issues as utilizing the means of Grace; the witness of the Holy Spirit; Methodist Witness and same sex relationships; daily half hour epilogues from 5.30 – 6 p.m; the service for ordination of new ministers on January 18 at 7 p.m; the Welcome Service and flag raising ceremony at 7 a.m. on January 20 and the Conference Service on January 21 at 4 p.m. at the Kingstown Methodist Church.

Parallel workshops at the church hall in Kingstown on January 23, from 7-9 p.m. for youths and young adults, women, and men are also open to the public.