Press Releases

Nominations for the World Methodist Peace Award are OPEN. Presented annually to an individual or group who has worked for peace, justice and reconciliation in their lives and in their ministries, the World Methodist Peace Award is a 30 year tradition of the World Methodist Council. The criteria for the Award are (1) Courage; (2) Creativity; and (3) Consistency in their work and witness to peace. The Methodist Churches in Italy (OPCEMI) and the Nassar Family (Tent of Nations) will receive the 2017 World Methodist Peace Award later this year (2018).  Previous recipients include Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, Lawi Imathiu, Nelson Mandela, Boris Trajkovski, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Jimmy

The World Methodist Council seeks to appoint a part-time Donor Development Officer (Resource Mobilisation) that will take responsibility for ensuring the effective mobilization of required resources  to meet the goals of our “Achieving the Vision” Endowment Fund strategy.

The World Methodist Council has learned with horror and sadness of the bombing and shooting at Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan, in which at least nine people were killed and many injured. We offer our deepest sympathy to those whose families have been visited with violent death and injury in this attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of the congregation, the Church of Pakistan, and all those affected by this atrocity. We condemn unequivocally all such violence perpetrated in the name of religion and against those who are in minority communities wherever these may be. We urge those in positions of

Two organizations have been chosen to receive the World Methodist Peace Award for 2017. The recipients were chosen at this year’s World Methodist Council Steering Committee meeting held in Rome, Italy. The committee verbalized its desire to present the award to both a Methodist and Non-Methodist recipient, especially during a time when the world needs to hear and see peace-making in action. Both organizations have boldly worked for peace in their respective areas of the world, but have also been instrumental in inspiring others to work for peace globally. Methodist Churches in Italy (OPCEMI), was chosen for their work with

  The World Methodist Council (WMC) and its member churches acknowledge the foundational role that the Holy City of Jerusalem has played in the history of the Christian Faith. The WMC, in partnership with two of its member churches, maintains a presence in the city through The Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem, which serves to increase awareness and involvement of the Methodist-Wesleyan community in current issues affecting Israel and Palestine. At this time of social, political, and religious sensitivity around the status of Jerusalem, we express dismay at the announcement of President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of

19 October 2017 — Rome, Italy A delegation consisting of the World Methodist Council (WMC) Steering Committee, Pastor Mirella Manocchio – President of L’Opera per le Chiese Evangeliche Metodiste in Italia (OPCEMI) , as well as members of the Methodist Roman Catholic International Commission for dialogue (MERCIC) met with Pope Francis in the Consistory Hall at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, Rome. Bishop Ivan Abrahams, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, delivered an address to the Pope, to which the Pope responded. Bishop Abrahams reflected on the occasion saying, “During this, our Golden Jubilee, 50 years of dialogue

August 11-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia we began to witness images of white nationalism, protests, counter-protests, violence, death, and tragedy. I denounce any behavior couched as Christian that dehumanizes people and elevates one group over another. Our doctrine as Christians and history as Wesleyans in particular compels us not to be silent or inactive, but to engage in love. I call on all Wesleyan Churches to pray for our nation, Charlottesville, and for pastors and community leaders on the front lines risking their safety there.

The World Methodist Council invites you to submit a proposal for event management services, as per the below-linked Scope of Work/Terms of Reference (TOR). The World Methodist Council, in partnership with the host church (Uniting Church in Sweden), is planning the organization of the 22nd World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, to take place from 18-21 August 2021.   The Conference takes place every 5 years. The conference brings together representatives from Methodist, Wesleyan, United and Uniting Church families across the world. Furthermore, the Conference will host numerous guests from partner churches and organizations.  The aims of the conference are to:

  The World Methodist Council is grieved to announce that Dr. Joseph Rice Hale, who was the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council for 25 years, died today, 14 November, 2016. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, 17 November, at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, North Carolina. Current World Methodist Council General Secretary, Rev. Ivan Abrahams, will bring the eulogy, and Rev. Sandy Giles will officiate at the service. Dr. Hale leaves behind his wife, Mary Hale, resident of Silver Bluff Village in Canton, N.C., and his son, Jeffrey Hale, a resident of

The World Methodist Council announces that Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon is the recipient of the 2015 World Methodist Council Peace Award. The award will be presented to Dr. Lyon at the closing worship of the 21st World Methodist Conference in Houston, Texas USA, on September 3, 2016. As the founder and former CEO (1996-2008) of World Hope International, Alexandria,Va., Dr. Lyon began that ministry in her home and, in twelve years, grew the organization to a $17 million global Christian relief and development agency serving in 30 countries and dedicated to alleviate suffering and injustice. In her time with World Hope International,