THE synods of the eight districts in the Irish Methodist Church hold their autumn meetings during the second half of September. At one time the conference directed the date on which all would meet, but some years ago a greater flexibility was introduced. One of the benefits of this is that some officers of the church can visit more than one synod to give information first-hand.
This month three of the synods are meeting with new chairmen. The Rev Alan Ferguson has been appointed to the chair of the Enniskillen and Sligo District, The Rev Dr Brian Fletcher to Belfast, and the Rev Wesley Blair to Portadown. Portadown District also has a new secretary in the person of the Rev Maurice Laverty. The former Londonderry District was this year renamed the North West District, and has a new secretary, the Rev Ian Henderson.
The autumn meetings deal with routine business, and each district decides which issue it will consider in depth each year. This year the coming millennium dominates the thinking of all, with several choosing to develop the Hopes and Dreams theme presented to the conference in Cork last June. This presents a challenge to the church at all levels to relate to the community as it is, and as it develops.
Several of the synods have invited members of the team which presented Hopes and Dreams to the conference to attend their sessions and assist their thinking. Other synods have sought inspiration further afield.
The Belfast Synod's guest speaker is the Rev Dr Bill Davies, former principal of Cliff College and sometime president of the conference.
Enniskillen and Sligo invited the Rev Howard Lewis to address them on the subject of living in a pluralist society. The Portadown Synod convened a consultation of all the circuits in the district before the synod, and the findings formed the agenda for the synod meeting.
From time to time the Department of Youth and Children's Work entertains the European Methodist Youth Conference. This is meeting in Castlewellan next month. Representatives are expected from the Methodist Churches, some of them quite small, in 23 European countries. There will be some discussion of co-operation among the Methodist Churches in different countries, but the major items on the agenda will arise from the situations of some of the member-churches.
Some have been deeply affected by the conflicts in the Balkans. All are involved in some way in the issue of world debt. The fact that the meeting is taking place in Ireland at this time will highlight the question of conflict resolution.
The president of the church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, will preach in Waterford tomorrow evening. On September 26th he will preach at the Harvest Festival in Limerick and in Shannon in the morning. In the evening he will address an Ecumenical Unity Service in Christ Church, Limerick. On September 27th he will visit the Adare and Ballingrane circuit, and preach at a service in Adare in the evening.
A service of worship from the studio, broadcast by RTE 1 on September 26th, will be led by the Rev Dr John Parkin and members of the Centenary Church, Leeson Park, Dublin.
ECONI is beginning two courses within the next couple of weeks. Journey into Understanding is a six-week course on Thursday from September 23rd.
It will take place in Howard House, Brunswick Street, Belfast, and is designed to assist participants in understanding the causes of division in culture, history, religion and politics. Bridge Builders is a 10-week course at the same location on Tuesdays from September 28th. It will deal specifically with aspects of peace building. Information about both courses can be had from ECONI at Belfast, 028 9032 5258.