First Friday Letter The World Methodist Council
February 2024
Greetings from the General Secretary Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, It is difficult to believe that the first month of 2024 has passed. Like John Gunther, many of us lament, ‘I have so much to do! And there is so little time.’ After passionate pleas from Palestinian Christians who wrote to us, ‘Please don’t write anymore statements and prayers. Come and stand with us this Christmas,’ I left the security of my family and comfort of home to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, amidst the rubble in solidarity with the Palestinian people in occupied Bethlehem on the West Bank. During this Lenten period, we cannot but reflect on the words of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, “if you, even you, had known on this day what would bring you peace” (Luke 19:41) in the light of the war which bleeds the life out of Gaza like the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head, the nails through his hands and the spear that pierced his side. Peace-making is not a passive activity, rather it demands a lot of emotional energy and can be a messy and risky business. To be a peacemaker does not require you to join a program or adhere to some social principles or ideas but simply to share in the mission of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Peace never happens by chance; we make peace. Peacemakers take the initiative; they seek justice and harmonious relationships in all spheres of life. In his Christmas sermon preached at the at the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Rev. Munther Isaac challenged all of us to look in the mirror and ask; “where was I when Gaza was going through genocide?” We are called to be people of action, peacemakers, and harbingers of hope in a world pregnant with possibilities. A different world is possible. Let us march to the drumbeat of Jesus our Lord in solidarity with Christians in Palestine by joining the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage. http:// www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com/ This First Friday letter highlights the Pilgrimage to Palestine, the work of the Church in Madagascar, the Methodist artifacts at Bridwell Library and two of the many speakers at the World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg. Shalom, Ivan
Photo 136007839 © Kabayanmark | Dreamstime.com
World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 1
Pilgrimage To Palestine — A Reflection A delegation of Christian leaders from around the globe, including a cohort from South Africa, spent Christmas in Bethlehem in a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinian Christians and citizens of the Gaza strip. The pilgrimage was organised by Kairos Southern Africa in collaboration with Kairos Palestine. The delegation included the eminent cleric Frank Chikane and the writer Jimi Matthew
I have been gripped by a sense of helplessness since October 7. The sheer scale of the horror inflicted on the people of Gaza is beyond comprehension. While the world’s attention is rightly focused on Gaza, the Israeli military has intensified its reign of terror in the West Bank. Since October 7, more than 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, have lost their lives, and almost 5,000 people in the West Bank have been detained. My daily torment revolves around the fate of those I encountered in March 2023 during my visit to the West Bank to create images for an exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, and the first anniversary of journalist Shereen Abu Akleh’s murder. When the opportunity arose to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Bethlehem on Christmas Day alongside an international cohort of clergy, it felt like a prayer had been answered. Without hesitation I joined the pilgrimage, motivated not as a journalist or photographer but to bear witness to the genocide that was unfolding before us. Our diverse group — made up mainly of South African clergy, included two Americans, a Canadian resident in Colombia and an Ecuadorean — navigated World Methodist Council
the inevitable interrogation and delays at the Israeli border before proceeding to East Jerusalem, where we would be staying for a few days. Our Palestinian counterparts had set up several meetings with all the leading representatives of the mainstream churches in Jerusalem, and with a leading Muslim cleric, as well as with civil society groups. Our first meeting was with a group of Armenian activists who had pitched tents on some church property and were guarding the site. The land had been illegally sold, in their opinion, to an Australian Zionist developer whose intention was to build a luxury hotel on the site. They were determined to prevent any construction until the courts had resolved the matter. They were expecting the developer to send in thugs to evict them and were prepared to physically defend the space. A week later we read newspaper reports that they had indeed been attacked, in the presence of the police, and had to physically fight off the attack. Story provided by Jimi Matthew’s as used in the Sunday Times. Read more at https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/2024/01/31/pilgrimage-to-palestine/ First Friday Letter page 2
Register to hear world renowned speakers Sermons, Seminars and Unique Cultural experiences deliver unforgettable memories Born and raised in Fiji and an ordained minister of the Methodist Church there, Rev. James Shri Bhagwan is in his second term as General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, the Oceania region’s peak ecumenical organisation with 35 member churches and 11 national Councils of churches from 19 Pacific Island Countries and territories, including Aotearoa New Zealand and the land know called Australia. A practicing ecumenist, Rev. James is also licensed to preach and celebrate the Sacraments in the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia. He holds a Bachelor of Divinity in Ecumenical Studies (with Honours) from the Pacific Theological College, a Master of Theology in Christian Social Ethics from the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, South Korea and hopes to eventually finish his PhD, when he can make time. A great-grandson of labourers brought to Fiji under the British modern slavery programme known as the Indenture System, social and ecological justice are key areas of Rev. James’ Christian Activism. An avid standup paddler and volunteer crew member, chaplain, and trustee of the Fijian Traditional Voyaging canoe, the Uto Ni Yalo - he is heavily involved in coastal and ocean/marine protection. He has previously served as the Methodist Church in Fiji’s Secretary for Communication and Overseas Mission, as well as acting General Secretary of the Fiji Council of Churches. Rev. James is also involved in gender justice work, climate justice and development issues. Rev. James is a seminar speaker for our WMC Conference and is speaking on the topic, “The Tide is Rising: It’s Time to Act,” engages participants on the role of Churches in addressing the ecological, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual impact of climate change on Pacific Islands - looking at vulnerability, resilience and the issue of climate induced displacement, relocation and migration.
Dr. G. Sujin Pak is Dean of the Boston University School of Theology and a historian of Christianity. Her scholarship focuses on the Protestant reformations, the history of biblical interpretation, and Christian-Jewish relations. Diversity, belonging, and inclusion are important commitments of her leadership, scholarship, and teaching. For leisure she enjoys hiking and reading novels. Dr. Pak is speaking on the topic Engaging Multicultural Voices through various Biblical characters... Do you wonder about how the Bible has been interpreted across time and cultures? My sessions will look at three biblical stories—the stories of Ruth, the Walk to Emmaus, and Jacob wrestling in the night—to explore shared and diverse emphases in interpreting and applying these texts. The goal is to explore examples of how Scripture is multi-voiced—having the agility to speak to multiple contexts, cultures, and social locations for deepened faithful responses and living.
World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 3
Register to attend the Conference! The 22nd World Methodist Conference of the WMC will be held 13-18 August 2024 in Gothenburg Sweden. Be part of this historic event. This is an opportunity for all Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches to come together. The WMC is the only place for all of John Wesley’s family to join at one table in a common bond. Worship will feature world renowned speakers. Choose your program from the many academic sessions, seminars, meetings, receptions and tours as you complete the registration form. The exhibit hall will feature a variety of displays from around the world or you can choose to have a booth and pitch your own ideas. Register NOW to receive the best attendee rate and hotel room choices. Join this worldwide celebration of cultures, music, and learn from people who will share their knowledge, allowing you new experiences.
Super Saver Price
Regular Price
February 1 - June 15, 2024 June 16, 2024 - Conference
Participants Except Youth Youth 35 and Under
$449
$499
$115
$135
“Triptych for Lent 2024,” Available Now! Dear Sisters and Brother in Christ, We are most grateful to share this season’s daily devotional guide. With scriptures selected from the Daily Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, this easily accessible and useable resource provides a wonderful companion for the journey through Lent. Together, we will adopt Jesus’ practice of seeing all who are poor and unjustly treated with eyes of tenderness. Why Triptych? Likely born in the Middle Ages, a ‘triptych’ is an art piece of three panels, connected both by proximity and theme. The three interlocking themes for this edition arise from Jesus’ temptations, faith practices Jesus articulated in the Sermon on the Mount, and the Lord’s Prayer.
World Methodist Council
When you click on this link, your Triptych for Lent 2024 will soon be on its way! The cost for the download is just 1.99 USD. Questions can be directed to Andy Morris, andymorris@wesleymen.org, or Steve Hickle, stevehickle@wesleymen.org. We pray you a most blessed Lent! WesleyMen An Affiliate Organization of The World Methodist Council stevehickle@wesleymen.org Rev. Steve Hickle, President
First Friday Letter page 4
Come, walk with us. Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage is a network of autonomous Christians groups with shared convictions who are engaging in a prayerful show of solidarity in cities around the world, where people during Lent will walk the length of the Gaza strip. God who at Calvary reveals the meek have begun to inherit the earth, anoint us again with your Holy Spirit that those of us who claim to abide in you
The Intention Our prayer is that this Lent as we meditate on the life and passion of Jesus, we might deepen our solidarity with what our Palestinian sisters and brothers are experiencing daily. We are committed to taking seriously the body of Christ in Palestine’s costly testimony to the truth of what is happening. Like Israeli human rights organisations and Jewish peace groups, we too want to accurately name what Palestinians are undergoing as fitting the legal definition of apartheid and military occupation. We heed the wisdom of experts who overwhelmingly identify genocidal intent in the ongoing war against Gaza and we are committed to its prevention. As Jesus teaches, we are seeking to “simply let our yes mean yes” and speak plainly the truth. We do so following the lead of so many Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians who have been on the forefront of the nonviolent movement, in calling for an enduring ceasefire and an end to occupation so a healing peace can finally begin.
may walk as Jesus walked. Fit our feet with the gospel of peace as we labour for healing justice. Bring your reign And deliver us from cowardice, complicity and immobilising despair. For the sake of your Son, Our Saviour and Lord Amen
Photo 292834735 | Gaza Map © Rokas Tenys | Dreamstime.com
World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 5
Register Now for this Exciting Event! 9-12 August Program for Young Adults
International Methodist Youth Leaders Seminar at the World Methodist Conference 2016 in Houston Be part of The International Methodist Youth Leaders Seminar which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden this summer. IMYLS is a unique platform for active Methodist young adults to dialogue and to encounter challenging issues of the future together. The World Methodist Council programmatic youth office with the Uniting Church of Sweden youth organisation (Equmenia), is hosting the International Methodist Youth Leaders Seminar in Gothenburg from 9-12 August. The goal of the program seeks to involve young adults in international, national and regional offices to encourage them to be On the Move in their home communities and the world. There is an opportunity to continue this focus for those who wish to participate in the World Methodist Conference. A limited number of applications can be accepted. Apply now. Preference will be given to active Methodist Leaders who are able to share this message. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 - 35 years old. Access the application form for this worldwide meeting. Through the QR or by following the link: https:// forms.gle/YGicSYwydCxJyJodA
The 22nd World Methodist Conference and how to get involved! Register for the sessions listed below: February 26th (20:30 GMT - London) - https:// us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtf-6sqTsqGtOsXErkkwIO1cWlwCvkhWvS March 25th - (10:00 GMT - London) - https:// us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlde-tpjMtE9QvTYPhqr9kBXkK2svFxQXy May 1st - (19:00 GMT - London) - https://us06web. zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsd-muqjooEt3jZPuSK0cR8XMagfnGFl7J Submitted by The Organizing Committee of the International Methodist Youth Leaders Seminar. For questions and more information, please reach out to Rev. Samuel Murillo, WMC Youth Coordinator at wmcyouthgathering2024@gmail.com
All youth are invited to the following Zoom sessions where we will share news about the upcoming IMYLS, World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 6
Church in Madagascar feeds hungry Members of the first United Methodist church in the island nation of Madagascar took their ministry on the road to help a community facing food challenges. In Faratanjona, located about 75 miles from Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, many of the village’s 1,500 residents lack basic commodities and the community doesn’t have infrastructure, including schools, clinics and roads. Climate change and other natural factors have greatly reduced crop production in the regions, hindering planting, producing and harvesting. Led by lay preacher Jean Aime Ratovohery, 12 adults and several youth from Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Antananarivo visited the village for four days in November to conduct an outreach mission.
Children and youth show off the cake they received from visitors from Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Faratanjona, Madagascar. The community faces food shortages due to climate change and other factors that have reduced crop production in the region. Photo by Esdras Rakotoarivony, UM News.
“The choice of this rural area was in response to their request to assist them with foodstuffs,” Ratovohery said. “The community faces drastic challenges.” A year ago, church members began sharing their faith with the people of Faratanjona. “I was moved to hear the local population express their desire to hear the word of God for strength and renewed hope,” Ratovohery said. To provide physical and spiritual nourishment, the recent outreach began with the youth singing praise songs, attracting a sizable audience. Ratovohery delivered a sermon. “People, young and old, followed the chanting,” said Ranivoharisoa Hanitra, a youth leader from Ambodifasika United Methodist. Youth member Raharimalala Henintsoa said the mission was two-fold. “We, the youth, have come not only to share the word of God with this community, but (also) to provide much-needed food aid,” Henintsoa said. The support, financed by the local United Methodist church, was well-received. “We are very happy and grateful to the Madagascar UMC,” said Dada Naivo, who received foodstuffs. “No one has ever done something so important for us in this place. Our souls and bellies are full, and we thank God for touching your hearts and sending you to provide food support.” In the absence of schools or open spaces for communal meals in this rural area, families set up a makeshift dining area near the preaching site. Following the food distribution, the deputy chief of Faratanjona spoke on behalf of the residents, expressing profound appreciation and a desire for continued support. “We are grateful to the UMC for the aid and for facilitating this evangelization moment,” he said. Ambodifasika youth Justin Rakotoarimanana emphasized the church’s important role in such initiatives and settings. “Despite the challenging journey to reach Faratanjona,” he said, “the youths’ action was a success. We felt the joy and warmth of the people who received both aid and the word of God, and this touched our hearts.” Rakotoarivony is a communicator for the Madagascar Mission Field of The United Methodist Church. World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 7
New stage, new look for historical collection Out of sight for more than two years, a leading Methodist historical collection is back on display in a new home: Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, remains the star of the show, as he was during the collection’s many years at the now-closed World Methodist Museum in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. At Bridwell Library, Wesley is represented by portraits, his traveling pulpit, a lock of his hair, a copy of his death mask and various ceramic busts and statuettes. But portraits and photos of women Methodist leaders also are featured, as are those of leaders of color who faithfully spread Wesleyan theology and practice across the world. “I’m quite impressed by the diversity of the people depicted,” said James Stanley, who toured the exhibition one day recently during a break from his studies in Perkins’ doctor of pastoral music program. “That makes me happy.” Such a reaction hits the sweet spot for Anthony Elia, director of Bridwell Library. He relishes having the collection but saw its reemergence as a chance to shake things up. “You’ll see a range of backgrounds and ethnic groups that you might not generally see in the traditional Methodist narratives,” he said. The World Methodist Museum opened at Lake Junaluska — the picturesque Blue Ridge retreat and meeting center — in 1956 as a ministry of the World Methodist Council.
Two former top executives of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, the Revs. Robert J. Williams and Alfred T. Day III, were part of a committee the World Methodist Council formed to recommend what to do with the museum’s collection. The committee insisted it should remain intact — not be scattered among institutions. Bridwell’s pitch to be the collection’s new home prevailed with the committee and the council’s leadership. The decision happened quickly. By April 2021, Elia was at Lake Junaluska to help pack hundreds of boxes. “I was there for a couple of weeks,” he said. A specialty moving firm used a tractor-trailer truck to bring the collection to Atlanta, where it was in storage for a while. Then it was on to Bridwell, which, with Perkins, is on the campus of Dallas’ Southern Methodist University. The library’s staff began a long period of sorting and evaluating what had arrived. Elia hoped to have a display up by spring 2023. But Bridwell got the chance to be part of a five-stop tour of the Codex Sassoon, an 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible. This was a coup for Bridwell — and drew crowds — but delayed work on the World Methodist Museum materials. A big push by Elia and his staff came last summer, and the exhibition opened on Oct. 2 in three gallery rooms at Bridwell, under the name World Methodist Museum Collections. Among those getting an early look was David Worthington. He’s director of global relationships at John Wesley’s New Room, an important Methodist historical site in Bristol, England. Read more of this story here.
The council’s top leaders then included the Rev. Elmer T. Clark. He was a renaissance man of mission and ministry, and he donated his collection of artifacts and portraits from early Methodism to get the museum started. For decades, many Methodists and others who visited Lake Junaluska would stop by the World Methodist Museum. Its holdings gradually swelled with acquisitions and donations — far more than could be on display. But in early 2020, the pandemic forced the museum to shut its doors. By February 2021, the World Methodist Council decided on permanent closure, citing the costs of staffing, utilities and upkeep. Anthony Elia, director of Bridwell Library World Methodist Council
First Friday Letter page 8
Join On The Move Online Monthly Prayer Meetings Methodists Respond to Climate Induced Migration As expressed in the statement issued at the World Methodist Council’s 2nd Consultation in Manila, Philippines in September 2023 (https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/2023/09/18/a-statement-of-the-second-consultation-on-migration-of-the-world-methodist-council/), we invite you to monthly Online Prayers with and for migrants, held every second Tuesday in preparation for the World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 13-18 August 2024 (http://worldmethodistconference.com). February 13th, we will be meeting at 7 am GMT, which will be more convenient for participants from Asia and the Pacific region. Dr. Elisapesi Havea will be speaking on the work of the Methodist Church New Zealand in formulating a policy to address climate induced migration. See the schedule below. Please register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclfuytrD0tHtQ7VdxBK5GGGHa-wnP0U5bB
Photo 55621296 | Boat © Jesse Kraft | Dreamstime.com
Save the dates:
World Methodist Council
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
7:00 am GMT
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
6:00 pm GMT
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
7:00 am GMT
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
6:00 pm GMT
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
7:00 am GMT
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
6:00 pm GMT First Friday Letter page 9
22nd World Methodist Conference Gothenburg, Sweden 13-18 August
Photo credits: Perkins School of Theology/ R. Hipps
Please send press releases, articles and resources! Submissions should be a page or less (450-500 words), edited and ready to publish. Contact us by Monday, 19 February at communications@worldmethodistcouncil.org if you would like your story to be included in the March edition of the First Friday Letter.
On the Web
About the First Friday Letter
This and past First Friday Letters can be found online at FirstFridayLetter.worldmethodistcouncil.org.
The First Friday Newsletter is a monthly publication of the World Methodist Council.
The World Methodist Council’s website may be found at worldmethodistcouncil.org. The World Methodist Council’s Conference website is at worldmethodistconference.org. To subscribe to this newsletter, please email communications@worldmethodistcouncil.org.
Publisher: Bishop Ivan Abrahams, General Secretary Communications: Michaela Bryson All stories and photos, unless otherwise stated, are protected by their respective copyrights. Please do not copy without expressed written permission from the Council.
Follow the Council on social media!! Twitter @WMCouncil
World Methodist Council
Facebook @World Methodist Council
Instagram @wmcouncil
First Friday Letter page 10