New President of the Methodist Conference promises a year of radical grace

News release

30 June 2018

New President of the Methodist Conference promises a year of radical grace


The Revd Michaela A Youngson has been elected and inducted as the new President of the Methodist Conference, taking over from the Revd Loraine N Mellor. The induction took place on Saturday 30 June.

It is the first time in the history of the Methodist Church that a woman has been elected to succeed a woman President. During the ceremony, the new President receives a Bible that was used by John Wesley.

During his lifetime John Wesley chaired the Methodist Conference but after his death the Conference determined to elect a President annually.

Michaela was ordained in 1997 and is one of the Chairs of the London District. She is a regular contributor to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio Two, Chair of Trustees for Methodist Central Hall, a trustee of Making Herstory and a trustee of Southlands College.

Having chosen ‘radical grace’ as her theme for the year, Michaela is looking forward to helping the Methodist Church consider the radical nature of God’s grace and the ethic of hospitality and love-centred mission that flows from that grace.   

During her Presidential address, Michaela commented: “God’s grace is radical. It goes beyond what is only fair, to a prodigious reckless generosity. It is prevenient grace, which flows from the Lover’s desire to see the beloved flourish, to be whole and to live in delight.

“We need to let go of our tendency to ‘niceness’ and, prompted by just how uncomfortable God’s grace is, make a nuisance of ourselves again in the market place and in the public square, refusing to remain silent in the face of systems that reinforce injustice, and oppress vulnerable people.”

• The video of the Revd Michaela A Youngson’s address is available here

• The text of the Presidential address is available here

Notes: 

  1. The Conference is the body that agrees policy for the Methodist Church. It meets annually as a group of 306 representatives, along with a number of ecumenical and World Church associate members. This year’s Conference is being held at the University of Nottingham from 28 June to 5 July. For more information, visit the Methodist website.
  2. You can watch the Conference live here.
  3. Follow the Conference conversation on Twitter via the #methodistconf hastag. Please note that comments and opinions on Twitter and the blog do not necessarily represent the Methodist Church’s position.

About the Methodist Church

The Methodist Church is one of the largest Christian churches serving Great Britain, with around 188,000 members and regular contact with nearly 500,000 people. It has 4,650 churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches with a worldwide total membership of over 80 million. Its activities, both alone and with ecumenical and secular partners, are based on four aims known as Our Calling:
•   To increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love
   To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care
   To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice
   To make more followers of Jesus Christ.

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For more information contact:

Michael Ivatt
Lead Media Officer
Methodist Church House
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
T 0207 467 5208
M 07881 783812
E
ivattm@methodistchurch.org.uk

  

Rosie Winn
Media Officer
Methodist Church House
25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
T 0207 467 5277
M 07969 985376
E
winnr@methodistchurch.org.uk

The Methodist Church  |     |       |   Methodist Church House25 Marylebone RoadLondon NW1 5JR 020 7486 5502 (General Enquiries) Registered charity no. 1132208
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