A fresh vision for Methodist mission at home and overseas

Today, the Methodist Conference agreed a newunderstanding, vision and purpose of the Church's calling toworldwide mission, seeking to integrate this more fully into thework of the whole Church.

"Mission is the lifeblood of Methodism," said Mr DaleepMukarji, Chair of the Mission Working Group, who presentedthe FutureMission Together report to the Conference. "This one mission islocal and global, wherever it is located. Instead of having aseparate missionary society, we want to ensure that mission andevangelism become even more embedded in every aspect of the lifeand work of the Methodist Church. As we learn and grow as disciplesof Jesus, I believe that mission will move closer to the centre ofeverything we do."

There will be a special bicentenary celebration of theMethodist Missionary Society (MMS) in October 2013,coordinated by the Leeds Methodist District, to recognise theoutstanding work of the Society over the last 200 years. Followingthis, the Conference has agreed that the work of the Society willbe fully integrated into that of the world church relationshipsstaff team.

The Revd Stephen Poxon, MMS Secretary, added: "We are sograteful for the work of the MMS and for the faithfulness of theMethodist people, who have given their time, money and passion inservice of others throughout the world. They do this because wehave a loving God, whose love overflows into his world,transforming it for the better. Mission is not just something doneby missionaries and I hope that every Methodist will be inspired tolive out the mission that God is calling them to."

The Conference resolved to inspire, educate, communicatewith and support Methodists everywhere in order to help them betterunderstand mission, locally and globally.