First Friday Letter
The World Methodist Council
Greetings from the General Secretary
Greetings,
In the face of so much darkness in this world, the biblical proclamation is that: “the Logos is the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). I present to you this month’s First Friday Letter, full of the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the witness, words and actions of the Church.
Gaza is left a desolated land! People in Gaza are being starved to death although there is food supplies awaiting at the border. It would be enough to feed everyone for four months but it is blocked from entering the Strip. Being possessed by the idolatry of land grabbing, some Israeli settlers marched through Jerusalem celebrating the 1967 occupation with a provocative parade, shouting for more deaths, and violence. “It is your hour - when darkness reigns.” (Luke 22:53). In the midst of such dark times, a brave light shines in the darkness: the multi faith counter march for human rights and peace, gathered under white umbrellas, in silence. That spoke volumes as a shout for peace. See the report inside from the Methodist Liaison Office Jerusalem.
There is also an article from WMC Geneva Secretary about a Conference reflecting on Armenian history and strife even to this day. History shows that the atrocities and mass killings will haunt peoples and nations for a long time. The killing of Armenians in 1915-16 is still reverberating. There is a growing recognition of it as a genocide. The USA with decision made by Congress in 2019 joined 34 other countries that recognised it as a genocide. Yet, isolated, the USA vetoed, on the 4th of June, a UN Security Council resolution on an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.
It is not without controversy to name crimes for what they are. But it is important to name them because then there are ways of bringing the perpetrators to justice, if necessary to international justice.
The 2025 Peace Award laureate has just been selected by the Steering Committee. It goes to Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda. She was the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor for nine years and endured great personal cost for that work. The World Methodist Peace Award is a recognition of her role and work in leading the International
June 2025
Criminal Court in the Hague and the light it represents. Dr Bensouda is a Muslim person and was nominated by the Methodist Church in the Gambia. Dr. Bensouda will receive the WMC Peace Award in Accra, Ghana, on 12th August 2025, when the Steering Committee meets.
There is a call for commitment and action from the Methodist Churches in Africa. The WMC contributed to the Summit of the Heads of Methodist Churches in Africa by facilitating Professor Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti to speak about cooperation on migration. Professor Gialloreti is an specialist in epidemiology and genetics, and led the St Egidio Community’s transformative work on the treatment of Aids in Africa in the 1990’s. St Egidio received the WMC Peace Award in 1997. At the Summit in Kenya, the WMC GS reflected with the Heads of Churches about ecumenical relations and the 25th anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.
A book review this month comes from the WMC affiliated body: the World Methodist Historical Society, European Section. It deals with the theme of people whose lives brought light to the world. Let us pray in the spirit of Charles Wesley’s words that: “Christ, the true, the only Light, may triumph o’er the shades of night.”
Revd. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto WMC General Secretary
Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bomm Bensouda 2025 Peace Award Recipient
Photo credit: Max Koot Studio
Her Excellency Dr. Bensouda 2025 Peace Award Recipient
On behalf of the WMC Steering Committee, we are happy to announce that Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda was awarded the 2025 World Methodist Peace Award. Dr Bensouda was the ICC’s Senior Prosecutor for nine years. In that position she showed great courage, creativity and consistency in promoting international justice with the view of peaceful co-existence.
Dr. Bensouda’s strong leadership and interpersonal skills, her ability to work effectively in an international setting, together with her ability to promote a productive work culture based on respect, professional integrity and dedication are just a few reasons why she is being awarded the 2025 World Methodist Peace Award. The ceremony will take place at the next Steering Committee meeting in Accra, Ghana, on the 12th August 2025.
Presently, Her Excellency Dr Bensouda is the High Commissioner of The Gambia to the United Kingdom and Representative to the Commonwealth, a position she has held since 2022, having been appointed by the President of the Republic. Under her leadership, the Gambia High Commission in the UK has the responsibility of enhancing bilateral relations between the Governments and People of the Republic of The Gambia & the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Israel and The Holy See. In this capacity, she has greatly enhanced the efficiency and operations of her diplomatic mission, and secured important successes in the delivery of her mandate through fostering and enhancing diplomatic relations with the UK and accredited countries, the Commonwealth and the International Maritime Organization; robust engagement with the diasporic community, and the signing of accords and treaties, inter alia.
On 2nd March 2022, she was appointed by the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council as Chair of the three-person Commission to lead the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. After leading in the preliminary work and establishment of the Commission and its working methods, she voluntarily resigned after being called upon by the President of The Republic of The Gambia to serve her country in the role of High Commissioner of The Gambia to the United Kingdom.
Previously, Her Excellency served as the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from 2012 to 2021. In 2011, she was elected by consensus by the Assembly of States Parties to serve in this capacity. Dr Bensouda was nominated and supported as the sole African candidate for election to the post by the African Union. She is the first woman to serve as the Prosecutor of the ICC. Her nine-year mandate as ICC Prosecutor ended on 15 June 2021.
In this latter capacity, Dr Bensouda managed a highly complex mandate, overseeing the Office of the Prosecutor’s management, operations and diplomatic engagements (including before major international bodies such as the UN Security Council), and ensuring the delivery of its core mandate of investigating and prosecuting major violations of international criminal law. This work saw the expansion of the Court’s work to encompass over 14 investigations and active preliminary examinations in conflict and post-conflict situations across the globe including in situations such as the Myanmar-Bangladesh, Ukraine, Darfur, Sudan, Uganda, Georgia, The Philippines, Afghanistan, Mali and Palestine, among others. Under her leadership, the Office of the Prosecutor drove major reforms and enhancements in the breadth and scope of its activities, and adopted pioneering policy papers, including on sexual and gender-based crimes, crimes against children, the protection of cultural heritage, and situation-closing strategies, while securing major successes in court in a number of cases.
Between 1987 and 2000, Dr Bensouda was successively State Counsel, Senior State Counsel, Principal State Counsel, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor General and Legal Secretary of the Republic, and Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Republic of The Gambia. Her international career as a nongovernment civil servant formally began at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she worked as a Legal Adviser and Trial Attorney before rising to the position of Senior Legal Advisor and Head of the Legal Advisory Unit (2002 to 2004), after which she joined the ICC as the Court’s first Deputy Prosecutor. Dr Bensouda served as delegate of The Gambia to, inter alia, the meetings of the Preparatory Commission for the ICC. Her work has been recognised globally through numerous accolades and awards.
Prior to the end of her mandate as ICC Prosecutor, Dr Bensouda was awarded l’ordre national du Lion du Sénégal by the President of Senegal for her dedicated service in the advancement of international criminal justice, and her native country, The Gambia, announced the country’s highest civilian honour will be bestowed upon her for her principled service as ICC Prosecutor.
From the General Secretary’s Diary
Reflection on attending the Induction of Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV - 18th May 2025 Leo - what might be in the name of the new Pope?
The one-word text message said: “Snap!”
The text came from a colleague minister immediately after the announcement from the Lodge of St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, that the new Pope would be called Leo XIV. That is my nickname. I am known by family, friends and foes if any, by my nickname, Leo. The Brazilian pronunciation differs from the English in a small way. The middle vowel is pronounced as the word: led. It is also the Latin for lion. It is a very popular name all over the world and in history. In my mother tongue, Portuguese, the Pope will be called Leão XIV. This is my surname, and the Portuguese word for lion. So either, by nickname or by surname there is no escape for me but to have as a namesake the Bishop of Rome and the Pope.
As I approached to greet the new Pope at the Papal audience offered to Christian leaders of worldwide Communions and leaders of different religions, I was convinced that there could be an awkward moment if I felt like saying my name, or nickname for that matter. Were I to say my name, a comedy of errors could have ensued. To avoid that, I introduced myself stating my role: “I am the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, greetings and prayers on behalf of the Wesleyan and Methodist family.” By now after receiving the greetings of a full hall, the man behind the role was visibly drained.
I am not sure whether that was because of the sheer number of those offering greetings or whether this was because the first Papal audience of the day that involved seeing JD Vance and Marco Rubio, respectively the USA Vice-President and the Secretary of State. After 45 minutes with Vance, the Pope came to the religious people. In spite of the fact that the Pope looked drained, I would have hoped that the colourful diversity of the people in the hall would have brought the Pope some joy and relief. The Pope had met with Vance and Rubio alone, other audiences were to follow. The two USA visitors continued their conversation with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations. The Vatican statement says that, “there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, during which hope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved.” Was it possible that political atmosphere of the previous meeting had drained the energy out of the Pope? I felt that the offer of prayers from the Methodist people were justified. Whilst the Pope exercises such universal ministry we at least should support him with our prayers.
I would like to think that now meeting people from different denominations and religions would have given him energy. He met the representatives of the brothers and sisters he is seeking to be in love and unity with. This is what he said in his homily at the inauguration service: “Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.” In this way the new Pope has nailed his colours to the mast with humility and openness: “I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who seeks to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.”
There we were, brought together by the charism of his role, representatives from so many denominations and religions, from many continents gathered for his Inauguration and in the audience to pay tribute to Pope Leo XIV. For me that was heartwarming. It made me feel proud of being called Leo. The name sake of the new Pope.
continued on next page...
President Debra Wallace Padgett and General Secretary Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto meet Pope Leo XIV
Photo credit: © Vatican Media
From the General Secretary’s Diary
What might be in the name chosen by Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost? The Pope himself made reference to other Popes called Leo. Commentators speculate that previous Pope Leos brought change with stability and more recently Pope Leo XIII is known as the Social Pope for his encyclical Rerum Novarum. This was the very explicit encyclical about social issues that supported future developments in the social teaching of the Roman Catholic Church influencing the Church throughout the 20th century. Leo XIII is also known as the Pope of the workers. His is a name that invokes faithfulness to the Gospel, rootedness in tradition, meanwhile taking the Church towards social responsibility, opening the path to a Church of social transformation. What a choice!
However, there might be another sense, yet not made clear, for which the name Leo has been chosen. I note the new Pope visited the tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggorie, Saint Mary Major. Pope Francis had chosen a small side space to be his resting place. Apparently, they used to keep candle sticks in it. Now transformed into his tomb. The photo of Pope Leo kneeling in front of the simple tomb seems to be a witness to Cardinal Prevost’s devotion to Pope Francis and his commitment to Pope Francis’ aims for the Church. He served under him as Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, working therefore to support bishops around the world in promoting the Church aliened to the aims of his predecessor. Could the name Leo be in fact related to Prevost’s commitment to the Church Francis promoted? How might the new Pope’s choice of name, Leo, be a covert way of honouring Pope Francis and the direction he was leading the Church towards?
Leo could be the name to link his papacy to Francis but without claiming the same name, without being Francis II. The name seems to have a cunning similarity to another Leo in history. I am talking about Brother Leo. Brother Leo who was one of Francis of Assisi’s followers and the closest supporter in Francis last years. Leo became part of the friends who responded to the call for help from “il poverello d’Assisi”. He then struggled to become the leader, the organiser, the one who moved the spirit of the saint to a religious order but without the compromises that some others were prepared to make. Leo fought to the end for Franciscans to continue poor and in service of the poor. Leo was the one to whom Francis dictated his Rule when his sight was failing, although Francis did not really want any rules. Is the name chosen saying something about how the new Pope sees his gifts in leading the Church after Pope Francis?
Is the name Leo, lion, like the wild ferocious ani-
mal, or more like a firm king of the forest? Could the name Leo be referring to a self assured and able ruler? The name invokes some self-contained dignity and the nobility of a lion. A lion seems to have an impassive, extremely strong presence, calm, ordered even. The name seems a bit paradoxical because in the case of Brother Leo, although strong and ordering, he still was the one who would bring food to Francis while he was praying in the hills outside Assisi. Brother Leo represents more of a simplicity and tenderness than perhaps the ferocious animal would allude to.
Is the new Pope saying something quite different to what everybody is thinking he is saying? Is the new Pope, avoiding the name Francis II but in taking the name Leo, saying that he is actually going to continue Pope Francis’ work to lead the Church to be a church in the terms of Saint Francis’ calling to “rebuild my church”? That would be a legacy that I hope would be followed by other Popes and by the entire Church universal. Early days yet, nonetheless, my hope is that he will ensure that the Church is ordered in that manner. That the example and characteristics of Brother Leo might be what is behind the Pope’s choice of name.
Article first published in the Methodist Recorder
Vice President Joshua Rathnam greets Pope Leo XIV at a meeting with church leaders and representatives of other religions.
Photo credit: © Vatican Media
Armenian Heritage Conference in Bern, Switzerland
“We are not here to be bystanders” – a Call to Methodists to work for the preservation of Armenian Religious, Cultural and Historical Heritage in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh
A few weeks ago, I received two invitations to attend the Armenian Heritage Conference in Bern, Switzerland, May 27-28,2025, one addressed to the World Methodist Council, one to The United Methodist Church: The World Council of Churches together with the Protestant Church in Switzerland organized the Conference in response to a call of the Armenian Apostolic Church to coordinate action after the newest expression of genocidal action towards the Armenians in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh September 2023. It was not by chance that we met in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. There is a longstanding relationship between the Swiss Protestant Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church and members of the Swiss Parliament urge their government to stay in solidarity with the Armenian people. Together with Bishop Dr Patrick Streiff who represented the UMC in Switzerland, I attended a well-organized conference which opened my eyes for one of the hidden conflicts of our days.
In preparation for the conference, I reminded myself of stories and images which were in the news September and October 2023: There was an exodus of 120000 Armenians from Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, caused by a new outbreak of violence from Azerbaijan towards Armenian people. Although I journeyed with siblings of the Armenian Apostolic Church in many ecumenical meetings, I forgot the ongoing pain and trauma and I did not realize the damage on cultural and religious sides in this region.
At the opening of the Armenian Heritage Conference May 27,2025 in Bern, Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, said: “We are not bystanders!” After having heard first-hand information, stories of pain, resilience and hope grounded in faith, I commit myself to keep eyes and ears open beyond messages in the headlines of the media, and to raise awareness for the pain of those who lost not only their homes, but also their places of worship. The statement issued by the Conference not only offers insights and information, but also invites to prayer and action towards peace, religious freedom and protection of life, livelihood, culture and identity of Armenians and others who are facing genocidal actions. I wholeheartedly recommend it for reflection and action:
https://oikoumene.org/ resources/documents/ final-statement-of-the-international-conference-on-the-preservation-of-armenian-religious-cultural-and-historical-heritage-in-artsakh/ nagorno-karabakh
For more information read: https://www.oikoumene.org/ news/armenian-heritage-conference-urges-coordinated-action-protect-living-expression-of-faith-identity-and-memory
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner
World Methodist Council
Geneva Secretary
The United Methodist Church, Co-Ecumenical Officer
World Council of Churches General Secretary Jerry Pillay giving opening remarks in preparation for the Conference.
Photo credit: Ivar Kupcis
Interfaith March for Human Rights and Peace
Jerusalem Day 2025 was observed on Monday, May 26, as a commemoration of Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, specifically focusing on the “reunification” of Jerusalem. The war led to Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and the annexation of East Jerusalem.
A central feature of the celebrations is the Dance of Flags, where thousands of Israelis march through the city waving national flags. A procession moves through the Old City, with men marching through the Muslim Quarter.
As in previous years, social media has documented disturbing incidents during the march. The narrow streets of the Old City make large crowds imposing, and some participants have engaged in offensive chanting (‘Death to Arabs’), including historically inflammatory slogans (‘May your village burn’) as well as new provocative statements (@there are no schools in Gaza, all the children are dead’). Reports indicate intimidation of Palestinians, ranging from vandalism - such as jamming shop locks - to verbal abuse - chanting “charmouta”(Arabic for “whore”) to female Palestinians and physical harassment.
As in previous years, a small group of Israeli activists attempted to protect Palestinian residents from harm. According to one activist, the atmosphere this year felt different; extremists appeared emboldened, showing no concern for the attendance of a protective presence: they said ‘they believe they have won”.
It was an ugly and violent day in a city that is supposed to be international and is called by many the city of God. Jerusalem has deep spiritual significance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam and the
centuries of prayers of the Abrahamic faiths have clothed the city in holiness.
On May 28, a different march took place—one focused on unity and peace. Hundreds of people, including Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian backgrounds, gathered without flags, chants or intimidation. We prayed for justice and peace, ending our march in silence.
To walk in silence was a powerful, deeply profound experience made even more significant by walking as one – Jew, Muslim and Christian…
This region is full of noise, the sound of aircraft carrying bombs to kill people in Gaza, the siren’s signalling incoming missiles from Yemen, the boom of the Iron Dome intercepting them, the noise of protest, the clanging of Politicians voices, and the cries of the dying, the starving and the oppressed.
Silence was appropriate at the end of the interfaith march but it is no longer appropriate from the world and from the global church. Can we stand before our God and honestly say that, in our silence, we have loved our neighbour as ourselves? On the day of judgement will God welcome us with the other sheep saying to us ‘when you stood up against starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza you did it for me’, or will we be banished with the goats defending ourselves saying ‘but when did we see you hungry Lord..?’
Article by David Hardman Methodist Liaison Officer, Jerusalem
Statement on Africa Heads of Conferences Summit
The Africa Methodist Council is a Pan African association of Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United Churches. The Council aims to encourage Methodist unity in witness, facilitate mission in Africa, and foster ecumenical and inter-religious activities that will enhance Methodism within Africa and promote the unity of the Methodist family in Africa, showcasing the African identity through the Wesleyan movement.
The heads of the conference summit was held at the Methodist Resort Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 to 19 May 2025, under the theme “Transformation of the Socio-Political and Economic Landscape of Africa: The Methodist Factor.”
The gathering of 55 delegates comprised the Executive of the Africa Methodist Council, heads of Methodist conferences in Africa, secretaries of conferences, administrative bishops, and general secretaries, as well as senior officials of various Methodist churches and institutions within the African Continent. Also in attendance were the President of the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean, Bishop Juan de Dias Pena Gallegos and Revd. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leao Neto, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council.
The discussions focused on reconciliation and transformational pathways, embracing ecumenism and bridging differences in theological perspectives with other churches, as well as working together on migration and transforming the socio-political and economic landscape of Africa.
Other conversations included ecumenical cooperation, regionalisation of the United Methodist Church, and its significance to Methodists in Africa, as well as the church’s role in conflict resolution.
Call for Action
1. To continually uphold our prophetic voice and witness by supporting one another in the fulfilment of our mission - spreading scriptural holiness across the continent.
2. We commit to walking with all denominations in a quest for Africa’s socio-political and economic landscape, premised on an eternal hope.
3. We commit to being a reflection of integrity and honesty for our political leaders with the hope of manifesting the possibilities that Africans can achieve.
4. To work in partnership with other Faith-Based communities across the continent that are aligned with the agenda and vision of the AMC.
5. To address the challenges of migration and the internally displaced on the continent, we will forge collaborations with organisations in other continents that work with migrants, thereby enabling the integration of migrants in the places they find themselves.
6. To explore ways of sustaining our work within the Methodist family in Africa and the broader African community.
We therefore commit to fulfilling our divine mandate as Methodists in the continent of Africa. We pray that God blesses Africa, sustains our Leaders and guards our hearts as we seek the peace and prosperity of our continent.
Signed
Revd. Dr. Martin Mujinga
President
AFRICA METHODIST COUNCIL
General Secretary
AFRICA METHODIST COUNCIL
Methodist Mission at Home and Abroad
Proceedings of the European Methodist Historical Conference, held at Velletri, Italy, September, 2023 Edited by Judit Lakatos and Michael Wetzel, published by the World Methodist Historical Society, European Section, Budapest, 2025, ISBN 9786158263115
This conference adopted a broad theme with wide appeal to European Methodist denominations. The well-organised event, in the beautiful surroundings of Velletri, brought together professional academics, archivists, missionaries, and other people with a burning amateur interest in the history of missionary work.
This volume contains twelve of the fourteen papers presented at the Conference. Rather than concen trating on the history of great missionary organisa tions, they mostly focus on women and men who embarked on an adventure, with vocation, deter mination, and considerable courage. The mission aries included, as well as pastors and deaconesses, eccentric figures who found it difficult to fit into their surroundings, sent by institutions which pro vided people and support, in some cases achieved jointly across national borders.
Contents
The preface by the editors is followed by Patrick Streiff’s introduction, ‘Methodist Mission in the Context of the Mission of Other Churches’.
The section, ‘Methodist Mission Across Continents’, comprises Martin Wellings, ‘Mission from Everywhere to Everywhere: A Victorian Case Study’, Carmen Friedrich, ‘Methodist Partnership: Swiss Mission Development Cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1980–2002’, and Michael Wetzel, ‘Methodist Missions and German Imperialism: Methodist Missionary Work in the Ger man Colonial Empire, 1884–1918’.
In the second section, ‘Inner-European Contacts’, Lothar Vogel examines ‘Wesleyan Methodism in Italy and its Printing Activities until 1870’, and Peter Howson, ‘Relationships between the British and German Methodist Churches 1930–1950’.
The final section, ‘Deaconesses, Social Work, and Home Missions’, includes Priscilla Pope- Levison, ‘The Role of Deaconess Training Schools for Amer ican Women Missionaries, 1885–1895’; Ann Cot terrell, ‘Race, Gender and Respectability: Wesley Deaconesses in West Africa, 1904–1920’; Esther Handschin, ‘Paula Spörri-Seidlmann: an Austrian
Missionary in China’; Tim Macquiban, ‘Social Service of Deaconesses in Serbia until World War II: The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Responses’; Christina Cekov, ‘Diaconal Service in Serbia until World War II: The Betania Hospital in Novio Sad, 1935–1945’, and Judit Lakatos, ‘The First Historic Site in Hungary: Martha Maria Home in Budakeszi’.
For copies and further information, contact the editor: lakatos.judit@metodista.hu
Article by Ann Cotterrell
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About the First Friday Letter
The First Friday Newsletter is a monthly publication of the World Methodist Council.
Publisher: Rev. Dr. Reynaldo F. Leão Neto, General Secretary Communications: Michaela Bryson
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