February meeting of the Methodist Council (1)

The Methodist Council met on 16-17 February at High LeighConference Centre in Hertfordshire. This is the second of threemeetings planned for the current Church year.

In a ground-breaking new initiative, the Council approved theappointment of three Companions to work with particularinternational partner churches. The Companions are the first to beappointed in a pilot scheme that will seek to strengthen the Churchin its relationships with partner churches around the world. RevdJennifer Potter, Revd Ward Jones and Revd Conrad Hicks willspecifically work with churches in Zimbabwe, Korea and Guatemalarespectively.

The Revd Ken Howcroft, Secretary of the Methodist Council, said;"We are really pleased to have made these appointments and hopethat this scheme will develop and strengthen the international workof the Church. The Companions will be able to offer a greaterpresence in specific areas than has previously been possible,offering the support of the British Methodist Church to our partnerchurches in some of the areas of greatest need."

The Council also pledged support for the Stamp Out Povertycampaign. Stamp Out Poverty is a network of organisations includingChristian Aid and Oxfam which campaigns for additional sources offinance to help bring the world's poorest people out of poverty. Iturges UK and international decision-makers to introduce a stampduty on sterling currency transactions, setting aside proceeds forinternational development objectives.

Children's charity Action for Children featured on the agenda, withCouncil members approving a strategy for closer working betweenAction for Children and the Methodist Church on internationalissues. The Church's World Church Relationships team will seek toidentify areas in which Action for Children might be able to offerspecific expertise and support, and will seek to include them inrelevant work with partner churches around the world.

Closer to home, Council members discussed the development of theChurch's ecumenical vision for working with other Britishdenominations, including how local churches might be encouraged insuch partnerships. As a practical expression of the Church'scommitment to ecumenical working, the Council also pledged toinvite a representative from the United Reformed Church's MissionCouncil to attend future meetings as a participative observer. Arepresentative from the Methodist Council will also attend MissionCouncil meetings and the two bodies will explore the possibility ofa joint meeting to be held in 2010.

Christine Elliott, Methodist Secretary for External Relationships,said; "This development in our relationship with the UnitedReformed Church enables us to be more intentional about finding newand practical ways of engaging in mission together."

Other topics discussed at the Council included the Church'sengagement with the media, the need to support local churches infostering discipleship and the Church's pension schemes forministers and lay employees.