Methodist Church to prioritise education and equality

The Methodist Council discussed the need for the Church tore-invigorate its engagement with the education sector when it metat Royal Holloway College in Egham, 24-26 March.

Currently, 22,000 children attend the 65 state-funded and 14independent Methodist schools in England and Wales. All the schoolshave a Christian foundation, serve their local community and arefully inclusive, welcoming pupils of all faiths and none.

"This is an enormous responsibility and we need to take it moreseriously as a Church," said Dr John Barrett, Chair of the Church'sEducation Commission. "But we also have an amazing opportunity,both within the schools that we already run, and with the potentialof providing more, either on our own or in partnership with otherChurches. This is one way in which we can use our resources andexpertise to live out or calling to serve communities acrossBritain."

Council members discussed a range of proposals to expand theChurch's involvement, including offering greater support toMethodists who work in the education sector and appointing morechaplains to further education. The report also recommends that theChurch extends its commitment by opening more state-funded schools,especially in areas of socio-economic deprivation. Therecommendations will go to the Methodist Conference in June for afinal decision.

The Council also received a report on the key principles underlyingthe Church's work on equality and diversity. It sets out a visionfor the Church to increasingly become a community that transformswider society, challenging prejudice, both within and outside theChurch.

"This is a significant step towards creating a more inclusiveChurch, reflecting the reality of who we are as a family of faith,"said Jennifer Crook, Equality and Diversity Adviser. "This is aChristian response to God's love and an outworking of our callingto be people of justice, mercy and grace." Other matters discussedby the Council included pensions, the role of Methodist Districtsand the Fruitful Field project, which re-examines the Church'slearning and training resources.

The Methodist Conference will meet at Plymouth Pavilions, 28 June -5 July. For more information, visit the Conference website.

Council papers are online here.