New President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference elected for 2024/25
28 June 2023
The Methodist Conference has elected the Revd Helen Cameron to serve as President and Mrs Carolyn Godfrey to serve as Vice-President, starting their year of office when the Representative Session of the Methodist Conference in Leeds in June 2024.
The Revd Helen Cameron is currently the Chair of the Northampton District and the Nottingham and Derby District, Moderator of the Free Churches Group and President of Churches Together in England. Helen represented the FCG at the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, reading prayers during the service and was also present at the Coronation of King Charles.
She has served as Assistant Secretary of the Conference and was the Director of Methodist Formation at the Queens Foundation. Helen enjoyed circuit appointments in the Birmingham South-West and the Elmdon circuits and is committed to the enabling, resourcing and flourishing of lay and ordained ministry. She has served in an Anglican/Methodist LEP, in industrial and rural mission, in areas of significant deprivation and in the joy of growing churches.
Helen has worked extensively with survivors of sexual abuse and and co-wrote the study guide Reflect and Respond with members of the Methodist Survivors Advisory Group.
Originally from Yorkshire, Helen is Chair of one of the largest Methodist Districts in the British Connexion which includes 260 churches and covers a geographical area from the Cotswolds to the Fens and from East Midlands Airport nearly as far south as Heathrow. Helen is an honorary Ecumenical Canon of Peterborough Cathedral.
Helen is married to Iain, a retired GP, and has three adult children. Helen enjoys novels, poetry, gardening and theatre.
Speaking of her appointment, Helen said: “I am overjoyed, humbled and rather amazed to have been designated as the President of the Conference for 2024-25. I hope to serve the Methodist Church to the very best of my ability and work with others for us to become an inclusive, safer and justice seeking Church. I am delighted to be working alongside and in collaboration with the Vice President designate, Carolyn Godfrey”
Mrs Carolyn Godfrey is the District Safeguarding Officer covering both the Darlington and Newcastle Districts and a local preacher. She has a background in pastoral care and child protection within the education system helping to support children with additional needs and families facing complex issues. Carolyn has a Master of Education degree which focused on social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Carolyn knows some of the challenges and benefits of neurodiversity because of her own dyslexia. She is particularly interested in how other neurodiverse people can be included within worship and all aspects of church life. Her experience in her safeguarding role, education and lifelong engagement with the Methodist church have given her a drive to understand and challenge the use and misuse of power.
Carolyn grew up in rural South Lincolnshire, is married to a Methodist presbyter and has lived in several circuits and districts around the Connexion. To unwind she likes to be creative, especially with crochet. She loves to spend time with her husband, her two grown up daughters and her grandson.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Carolyn said: “It is an honour and a privilege to serve the Church this way.”