Mission at International Conference in Rome

ROME (MEOR) - Several Methodist leaders spoke at an important international conference on the topic of Methodist approaches to synodality in January. The conference - Listening to the West - brought together leading scholars and church leaders from Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and Old Catholic churches to present theological, canonical, pastoral, and historical perspectives on synodality. The conference – held at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome from 26-28 January 2023 – was organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Angelicum under the patronage of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Vatican General Secretariat of the Synod. The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome collaborated with the Institute of Ecumenical Studies in organizing the conference.

In October 2020, Pope Francis initiated a major international consultation process for the Catholic Church on synodality. The Catholic Church uses synodality to describe the process of the people of God journeying together in discernment of the Holy Spirit for mission, communion, and participation. The initiative emphasizes that synodality is more than an official assembly for decision-making. The international consultations include active participation and reflection by many Christian churches, including Methodists. The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, was an official fraternal delegate to the opening of the international consultation process at the Vatican in 2020. Catholic theology of synodality resonates with Methodist theology of conferencing (or conferring), sanctification, and mission. The Listening to the West Conference is an outgrowth of the Vatican’s global discernment project.

At the Listening to the West Conference, the Rev. Prof. J. Kwabene Asamoah-Gyadu, a minister of the Methodist Church Ghana and president of Trinity Theologi- cal Seminary in Legon, Ghana, gave a keynote address on “Synodal Experience: the Methodist Approaches.” Utilizing Methodist hymnody, Prof. Assamoah-Gyadu spoke about Methodist spirituality, discipleship, and sacramentality as marks of Methodist approaches to synodality.

Additional lectures on Methodist synodality were given by:

• Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Geneva Secretary of the World Methodist Council and bishop emeritus of The United Methodist Church in Germany, on pastoral perspectives,

• Rev. Dr. Kenneth Howcroft from the Methodist Church in Britain on canonical/church order perspectives, and

• Rev. Prof. Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman, minister of Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in Rome and visiting professor of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, on historical developments.

The Rev. Deacon Alessandra Trotta, moderator of the Waldensian Evangelical Church (Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches), also gave lecture on pastoral perspectives during the Reformed segment from the viewpoint of United/Union churches. Deacon Trotta is Methodist and serves as the head of the Italian Methodist-Reformed union church.

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, moderated the keynote lecture and organized the panel discussion.

Learn more about the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome at www.meorome.org.

Story was submitted by Rev. Matthew Laferty