Archives

I have just returned from the first meeting of the new Steering Committee of the World Methodist Council held in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, USA.

A peculiarly Methodist township of about 3000 people, Lake Junaluska will celebrate 100 years, in 2013, of camps, conferences, retreats and retirement haven for Methodists, particularly from the Southern and Eastern States.

Owned, operated and inhabited by Methodists, Lake Junaluska hosts hundreds of events throughout the year. Facilities encircle a man- made lake at the foot of the Smokey Mountains in Appalachian country. The name, Junaluska, comes from a Cheroke Indian Chief. Unfortunately our meeting coincided with the once-in-a-decade draining of the Lake to clear out silt brought in by the 7 feeder streams. This silt is used in Lake Junaluska pottery.

The Standing Committee had 25 present from 12 countries. The President of the World Federation has a position on the Presidium of the Council, as does the President of the World Men’s Fellowship. Regional Presidents, Standing Committee Chairpersons, Youth and Young Adult President, Director of Evangelism, General- Secretary, Youth Coordinator, Treasurer and Past President make up the  Steering Committee.
Reports and future directions were presented by each Committee Chairperson: Finance, Ecumenical Relations, Family Life, Evangelism, Worship and Liturgy, Social and International Affairs, Youth and Young Adult, Women’s Federation, Men’s Fellowship.

My report focused on the 12th Assembly held in 2011; Chita Milan’s Powerpoint, “Her Story”; the Millennium Development Goals; and the development of the Website.

We visited the World Methodist Museum for the unveiling of the portrait of the Past President, Rev Dr John Barrett. What a wonderful museum this is! Located between the Office of the World Methodist Council – an exact replica of the Old Rectory, Epworth – and the Terrace Hotel, it houses an amazing collection of Wesleyana and the history of the Council. I was particularly delighted to see thar our Archivist, Emmy-lou John, had recently visited and with curator, Amanda, had up-dated the World Federation display to include the current World Officers.

The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be in Rio de Janiero in March, 2013.

To my Federation Family

Greetings in the name of Christ who is our Hope!

The past month has been a time for me to reflect on events of the 12th Assembly and the future role I’ll play as your World President. As I said in my response after the Installation, this position was not on my agenda. I went to Johannesburg hoping to become South Pacific Area President, but was invited to put my name forward as World President. Two sleepless nights and much prayer later, I agreed that God’s plans are not always our plans, but if God calls, God will equip. So here I am – your President!

Paul tells us hope involves things unseen. Sometimes God calls us into an unseen future – and hope sustains us.

This certainly has been true in my life. Left fatherless at 2; called (with 48 hours’ notice to make a response) to serve alongside my husband, John, with the Methodist Church in Tonga; suffering from chronic depression for over 10 years, it has been the hope found through my faith, the support of the church family and the willingness to serve with all my being in each area of ministry that has got me through tough times.

Your new Executive met immediately after the Assembly and made these decisions:

• Dorothy Kumar (India) invited to be Tree of Life Editor for another quinquennium with congratulations and thanks for a superb job done over the past five years.
• Emmy-Lou John (USA) invited to be our Archivist, following the great work of Pamela Klimcke 2006-11.
• Nicholas Connan, my elder son, invited to take over the web-site from Ken Milan, Chita’s son. We thank Ken for his work and especially for the Assembly material now available for all.
• the adoption of a new version of the Tree of Life logo which will make photocopying easier.

As I wrestle with the changes this appointment means in my already busy life, I ask for your prayers as I offer prayers for you, your families, your churches, your countries and our wonderful Federation family. Bambelela!

Shalom.

Ann Connan