Passing of Mikhail Gorbachev

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev photo at European Parliament Energy Glob Awards

World figure, Russian leader, and winner of the 1990 World Methodist Council Peace Award recipient, Mikhail Gorbachev, has died at the age of 91. The Council joins the many people around the world in remembering this influential man who worked diligently as he broke the mold to work for peace for his country and the planet. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Gorbachev was often revered more by others in the world than the citizens of his country. 

Gorbachev reinforced persuasively the notion that dialogue is always preferable to war. He was cited for his contributions to human understanding, international stability, and a changing world.

Global Methodist Schools Conference 2023

Methodist Education International Conference 2023 Web Banner
Methodist Education International Conference Agenda

Announcement from the Methodist Education International Conference 2023 website:

Methodist Schools UK and the International Association of Methodist Schools and Colleges (IAMSCU) are pleased to invite you to the Transforming Lives Methodist Education International Conference for the family of Methodist educators in April 2023.  We are excited to offer a linked series of three events – each focused on a different stage of Methodist education, and each seeking to deepen our shared understanding of how our work can transform the lives of school children, as well as those in higher education and students of theology, and the lives of those in the communities around them.

The Conference coincides with the 275th anniversary of Kingswood School, the Methodist school established by John Wesley in 1748 and we are particularly pleased that the Bath/Bristol event will focus on the work of those leading and governing schools for children under 18 for the first time. 

We believe that the three linked events forming this Conference offer a very special opportunity to share, network, celebrate and enhance the educational opportunities for children and professionals in Methodist Education. Join us in April 2023 in London, Bristol/Bath and Cambridge for a range of keynote sessions, seminars and workshops engaging with the key issues and challenges in the education landscape today: from environmental sustainability to child mental health, from new resources and ideas to support teaching the history of Methodism to discussions exploring holistic theological education or role of values based education in shaping a just society, celebrate with local and international colleagues the relevance, diversity and transforming power of Methodist education by booking your place for one, two or all three of our linked events.

Thursdays in Black ambassadors: “we cannot be silent” about gender-based violence in faith communities

In a joint message on gender-based violence, sexual abuse, and faith communities, 26 World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursdays in Black ambassadors lament that the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence continues unabated—and call on faith communities to prevent such violence in their own spaces.

“As ambassadors for Thursdays in Black, and in our various leadership capacities, we have witnessed the increase in domestic and gender-based violence, including child marriage, in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, arising out of necessary movement restrictions and economic uncertainty,” reads the statement. “With the rise of digital communication, there is increased online sexual abuse and harassment with devastating effects on individuals, families and communities.”

The statement urges us all not to be silent. “We lament that far too many times, those who bravely come forward to share their stories are not believed, are shamed, are blamed, or are ignored,” the text reads. “Too many times we have seen victims silenced and perpetrators unpunished.”

The ambassadors note that they are heartened by the global growth of the Thursdays in Black movement and the visible solidarity shared across faith traditions to overcome rape and violence.

“We call on our faith communities to take the next step in practical action to ensure such violence does not happen in our own spaces,” the statement reads. “Following the WCC central committee recommendation, we invite all faith communities to state their commitment to overcoming sexual and gender-based violence, clearly and publicly, including the policies and steps they will take when abuse is reported.”

Access to support and justice for survivors must be integrated in our responses, the ambassadors urge.

“We welcome religious and theological reflection and education which interrogates our holy scriptures on the relationships between men and women and masculinities and femininities, our understandings of gender and gender identity, and our relationships with all people as part of humanity, the text concludes. “We encourage all people of faith to join us in Thursdays in Black to raise awareness and advocate for a world without rape and violence.”

Read the full statement