The Methodist Conference has elected the Revd Richard Teal to serve as President and Carolyn Lawrence to serve as Vice-President, starting their year of office when the Representative Session of the Methodist Conference opens in Telford in June 2020.
Mr Teal has particular experience in rural ministry and has pioneered a county-wide ecumenical project as Chair of the Cumbria District.
Following his election, Richard said: “I feel honoured, humbled, privileged and amazed to have been elected the President Designate. During the year of office I hope to give particular emphasis to the rural church and community alongside an affirmation of our ecumenical relationships as forms of mission and outreach.”
Carolyn Lawrence, a former mission partner in Guyana, has most recently been working with the Global Relationships team of the Methodist Church.
On hearing of her election, Carolyn said: “I feel deeply humbled and honoured to have been elected as Vice-President for 2020/21. I am grateful to all who voted for me and have prayed for me and I trust God will equip me to fulfil this awesome call. I will seek to bring honour to the name of Jesus and to encourage people wherever they are on their Christian journey. ”
The role of President of the Methodist Conference is reserved for presbyters and that of Vice-President for lay people or deacons.
