John Wesley spoke of the Methodist people as "the friends of all and enemies of none". It is a catchphrase which his successors have delighted to quote, though like all catchphrases, it is very much an oversimplification.
One of the ways in which Irish Methodists have sought to express their founder's adage is in the growth and development of ecumenical relations. For many years the Methodist Church in Ireland has been a member of the Irish Council of Churches, and has been involved in the Irish Inter-Church Meeting.
The proposal that the latter be reconstituted as the conference of Churches in Ireland was seen as giving the member-churches an opportunity of reassessing their involvement. The importance of this was signalled by the fact that it was presented to the conference under the business of the General Committee instead of that of the Inter-Church Relations Committee.
The debate was brief. The conference had little doubt that it wished to be in membership of the CCI.
The publication in Britain of a new worship book in which one form of service made reference to "God our Father and Mother" was greeted with more strongly divided opinion. The conference does not direct the use of service books, Methodism having a long tradition of extempore prayers, but it does recommend. On this occasion it recommended that the circuits should express their views on the new texts over the next couple of years.
Gurteen Agricultural College in Co Tipperary was established by the church in 1947. The forthcoming retirement of Mr John Craig has necessitated the appointment of a new principal from the beginning of next year. The conference confirmed the appointment of Mr Michael Pearson BSc who has been senior lecturer at Kirkley Hall College in Northumberland for some years.
The Loft Choir of Irvington United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, will make a short tour of Ireland at the end of this month and the beginning of August. The choir normally comprises 40 voices, but only about 30 of these will be travelling. It has developed a considerable reputation in Methodist and wider circles throughout Indiana, both in worship and on the concert platform. It is directed by Mr W. Mark McCreary, who has given organ recitals in the United States and Europe.
On Wednesday, July 28th, under the auspices of the Methodist Church in Adare and Ballingrane, the choir will perform in the hall of the Mercy Community College at Rathkeale. The programme will be devoted to American religious music in a variety of styles, drawing on the long tradition of spirituals and hymn singing, but also featuring contemporary composers. The concert begins at 8 p.m. On Sunday, August 1st, the choir will sing at the 11 o'clock morning service in Rocrea Methodist Church.
Tomorrow, the President of the church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, pays a visit to the church at Portrush, Co Antrim. On the following Sunday he will preach in the church of which he is at present minister, in Bray, Co Wicklow.