First Friday Letter
The World Methodist Council October 2025
Greetings from the General Secretary
Greetings to all WMC community and beyond: of Justice, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19)
We are still so grateful to the African Methodist Council and Methodist Church, Ghana for the Akawaaba (welcome and hospitality) offered to the WMC Steering Committee members and meeting, in August. The encounter, the sense of belonging, the participation, and the fellowship with the Ghanaian Methodists was immensely inspiring.
In this First Friday Letter you can find a reflection on Leadership offered at the Steering Committee worship time in Ghana, by the WMC Youth and Young Adults Coordinator Stephanie Gabuyo. The hope is that the whole world-wide Methodist/Wesleyan/Holiness community would be able to share in the reflection that shaped the prayer time during those days in Accra. This is the first reflection to be published. There will be more to come.
Methodism in Ghana is the fruit of the interactions and, to a certain extent, the fusion of Methodist theology, Akan cultural identity and Ghanaian nationality, argues the Rev. Dr. Casely B. Essamuah, in his book, “Genuinely Ghanaian, a history of the Methodist Church, Ghana, 1961-2000.”Admitting it in his Epilogue written years later, Rev Essamuah notes that the MC, Ghana has expanded and grown much beyond the Akan culture and geography, not least, to the Northern Region, including into the diverse languages and cultures, as well as into French-Speaking, Muslim majority Burkina Faso. I know this from personal experience, as I had the opportunity years ago to visit the Dioceses in the Northern Region.
Methodism, Wesleyanism will be shaped and reshaped as it is on the move. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and it’s message is received in incarnated ways, always inculturated and contextual, in interaction and to a certain extent in fusion with local culture(s). The culture(s) may offer the form, like a cup gives form to the water poured into it, and the Gospel manifests the content to be drunk to quench every thirst. Ebibindwom, the Akan music tradition (almost like rap; improvising the lyrics to a rhythm) is one way in which the Gospel is received and internalised, reinterpreted, repeated and proclaimed. Through Ebbindwom the Methodist Church, Ghana has been indigenised. That will continue several times over as the Gospel expands and encounters other cultures.
The same goes for the Wesleyan emphasis on sanctification. It has to adapt itself to every different context and culture it encounters. Sanctification - the growing, the perfecting of our lives to mirror God’s divine nature, love - will be shaped differently by the contexts in which it is planted. We, therefore, cannot expect every Methodist or every WMC Member-Church to be the same. To respect the differences is to honour the incarnational nature of the Gospel. This is in tune with an eternal God who self manifested in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
There is inside in this FFL, amongst many other articles, an opportunity to find prayer partners around the globe, who, though different in their Methodist outlook would be willing to share their most inner spiritual life with others within the family. The Educational and Theological Education Programme Committee is encouraging this journey of discovery through prayer. Learning other ways in which our faith has rooted itself in different locations and contexts. Let us, as St Paul invites us to do, make every effort that leads to peace and mutual edification.
On the move, and forward, may the pilgrimage of self-discovery, of Wesleyan theology, unafraid of cultural incarnation, lead us all to being a church respectful of differences, living in justice, with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
General Secretary Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto
Leadership
– Sustaining Spirituality: What Happens on the Mountaintop?
Luke 9:28–36
This is the first of a series of reflections on Leadership shared at the WMC Steering Committee meeting that took place in August 2025 in Ghana, look for others in the next First Friday Letters.
Some years ago, I climbed the Malvern Hills located in the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a small area of northern Gloucestershire (East Midlands, between Bristol and Birmingham). Now, they’re not technically mountains— the highest point is just about 400 metres — but for someone like me, who had never really climbed before, it felt like a real challenge. The ascent was tiring; my legs were sore, the path seemed to stretch on endlessly, and I honestly questioned halfway through why I had thought this was a good idea.
But when I reached the top — breathless and aching — there was a quiet satisfaction. The view stretched out in every direction: green fields, little towns, distant ridges. It was as if I could see more clearly, not just the landscape, but something in myself. I had done it. It wasn’t Everest, but it was enough to give me a sense of perspective — of accomplishment, of space, of silence. I think many of us carry a memory like that, whether it’s on an actual hill or in some other part of life, where we’ve glimpsed something higher, deeper, more lasting.
In Scripture, mountains are often where people meet God. Moses receives the Law on Sinai. Elijah hears the whisper of God on Horeb. Jesus teaches on a mountain, prays on one, is crucified on one, and, in today’s Gospel, is transfigured on one.
Luke tells us Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear beside him, and the disciples are overwhelmed.
This is a moment of glory — a divine unveiling. A glimpse of Christ not just as teacher or healer, but as the radiant Son of God. It is a moment that gathers all of salvation history: the Law, the Prophets, and the fulfilment in Christ. And yet, even in its brilliance, it is fleeting. A bright flash — then cloud. Silence. And a voice: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” (v. 35, NSRVUE)
The Transfiguration is more than a vision. It’s a moment of formation. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image from glory to glory.” Not just inspired, not just
moved — but changed. The Greek verb Paul uses can mean both to contemplate and to reflect, like a mirror. In one sense, Christ is the mirror in which we contemplate divine glory; in another, we become the mirror that reflects that glory to others. But it’s more than just reflection — Paul goes further. He suggests we become what we behold. In this age of constant images, when what we see shapes us deeply, it’s not hard to understand this. “The eye is the lamp of the body,” says Jesus. If our gaze rests on him, his purposes, his thoughts, his compassion begin to take root in us.
Early Christians saw this not just as poetic theology, but a living spiritual reality. A 12th-century Byzantine writer used the word photograph — long before the invention of cameras — to describe how, in contemplation, the soul becomes like a photographic plate: “Let us guard with care the mirror of the soul,” he writes, “in which Jesus Christ… is wont to imprint and photograph himself.” This isn’t sentimental. It’s formation. And in leadership — especially in spiritual leadership — what we contemplate will shape what we bring.
But this mountain moment does not float above real life. It is deeply anchored in the story of salvation. The early Church soon saw the parallel between this moment on Mount Tabor and the encounter with God on Mount Sinai. As one Church Father (St. John of Damascus, c. 675–749) put it: “Mount Tabor surpasses Mount Sinai: there, a flame of fire; here, the light of divinity. There, the bush; here, the cloud. There, Moses the servant; here, Christ the Lord. There, the figure; here, the reality. There, the law; here, grace and truth.”
Yet even here, the cross is near. Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah speak with Jesus “about his departure” — in Greek, exodos — the road to Jerusalem and the suffering to come. Even in this moment of shining light, the shadows of the Passion are present. It is not a Christian version of apotheosis. It is not glory instead of suffering — but glory within it, and even because of it. It is, as Paul says in Philippians, “the glory that comes through obedience, even unto death.” This is the Christ who “emptied himself,” and therefore was “highly exalted.” The mountaintop vision does not replace the cross; it prepares us for it and strengthens us to bear it. That is why Peter’s impulse to build tents is bypassed: this moment is not for preservation, but for listening — and following.
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Leadership – Sustaining Spirituality:
What Happens on the Mountaintop? continued...
This is one of the most profound challenges for Christians today. We may long for the mountain, but our call is lived in the valley. Spirituality, if it is real, must travel with us. It cannot remain in moments of private rapture or sacred seclusion. Christian spirituality is incarnate. It takes flesh in the dust of ordinary life.
When they come down the mountain, the disciples are immediately confronted with human suffering — a boy in torment, a father desperate for help, a crowd unsure, disciples confused. The contrast is jarring. But Jesus does not turn away. He steps right into the ache of the world, still shining with a glory that only the attentive can perceive.
This descent matters. Christ shows us that to follow him is not just to rise toward God, but also to descend with God — into pain, injustice, uncertainty, and mission. As Methodists, we believe in holiness not just of heart, but of life. John Wesley spoke of the means of grace: both the inward journey of prayer and the outward movement of mercy. One without the other is incomplete.
So how do we sustain spirituality when we are no longer on the mountain? For me, it is about rhythm: the rhythm of prayer — even short moments of stillness at the start of the day, whispering Scripture before I look at emails; the rhythm of community — gathering with others to study, to eat, to laugh, to serve; the rhythm of remembrance —holding onto mountaintop moments not as something to return to, but to carry forward.
Leadership is never for ourselves alone. The disciples eventually spoke of what they saw — not to impress, but to witness. That is our call too: not to manufacture mountaintop moments for others,
but to walk with them attentively — as Christ did — through their valleys, with a presence shaped by what we have seen. In workplaces and homes, in politics and education, on buses and in supermarkets — to lead from a place of contemplation means that Christ’s light may shine through the most ordinary conversations and the most overlooked acts of service.
So what happens on the mountain? Christ is revealed. We are changed. And we are sent. Where does it matter? Down here — where the Church gathers, where the wounded wait, where people still cry out, “Lord, I beg you, look at my son.”
Then, echoing this hope and resurrection life, we join in the words of Charles Wesley’s invitatory hymn—here the sixth stanza invites us into a vision already dawning among us:
“And God himself our Father is, And Jesus is our friend.
With him we walk in white; We in his image shine; Our robes are robes of glorious light, our righteousness divine.”
May these words not just be our prayer, but our promise: that the life of resurrection can be anticipated even now.
May we be followers of Christ — walking in His light, renewed in His image, bearing His presence into the valleys of our world. Amen.
Ms. Stefanie Gabuyo WMC YYA Committee Chair (Co-ordinator)
From the General Secretary’s Diary
The Tale of the Two Crosses
The response to the question, ‘who is Jesus’ is at the crux of Christian discipleship. To get to know Jesus is to listen to his words and to practice his teaching (Lk 6:46-49). “Who Am I to you?”, Jesus asks. I was 17 years old when I heard the voice of Jesus saying: “if you want to save your life you will lose it, but if you are able to open up your hand and trust, you will gain it. I am calling you to pick up your cross and follow me. I am calling you to be a minister.” The question that intrigues me more than any other, now that I am a minister, is whether I am picking up my cross every day, denying myself, and following Jesus.
What is the cross of Jesus for me today? That is a question relevant for each follower of Jesus. When we pick up our cross and follow Jesus, we will know the true Jesus and the true cross. It might not be comfortable to carry our cross. It might be even scandalous, as St Paul said. But Jesus calls us to do so. It will have the power to save and liberate us to a new life.
There are other voices claiming the cross of Jesus as theirs but for spurious purposes. I felt this was the case over the weekend 13th/14th September, when there were competing claims to the cross. This became the tale of the two crosses. It played out on Saturday 13th September at a far-right demonstration in London using the cross as a symbol against immigrants, and another very different event in Rome on the 14th claiming the cross of Christ in the cross the Christian martyrs carried. The latter, as a witness to God’s love and compassion. The former as a symbol of hate.
I was glad not to be in London when the farright took to the streets of Westminister to display crosses to say that immigrants are not welcome in the UK. I am an immigrant from Brazil to the UK, albeit for religious reasons. I have been welcomed by the Methodist Church in Great Britain as a mission partner and then nurtured to be a minister, a superintendent minister and a Connexional officer. Here I am, an immigrant and a Methodist minister, a representative of the Methodist Church in Great Britain with a strong accent, and exercising ministry to the full. However, were I to be in London on the 13th September, I would have felt threatened by the far-right demonstration. For that group, immigrants are taking their jobs, using money from tax payers, abusing the benefit system, and representing a threat to their ‘christian’ culture. Their call was, take up your cross to show that immigrants are not welcome here. Even Elon Musk joined the rally. Is Elon Musk not an immigrant himself?
The crosses raised on the streets of London by the extreme right are not in my view the true cross of Jesus. I felt proud to read the letter from the Methodist Church in Great Britain denouncing the march’s falsehood, see it in the link below: https:// www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/21/christians-should-stand-firm-against-the-far-right saying that it was a denial of whom Jesus himself was/is.
The life of every believer is a struggle. We, who pick up our true cross, fully participate with Jesus in his suffering and Jesus’s saving/redeeming work. The true cross leads to a life following Jesus’ Great Commandment. The other cross, leads to a denial of the Great Commandment. A cross that we carry as a symbol, the one tattooed to the body, or hanging on a necklace, to be meaningful has to represent that the cross bearer is taking up the true cross of Jesus, the cross of the servant Lord. A true cross is a sign of the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus. It is a sign of compassion, mercy, of unconditional love.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross falls on the 14th September. It has been re-signified by Pope Francis as an ecumenical Feast for the New Martyrs of the 20th and 21st century. These are christians who have picked up their cross, denied themselves, and given their lives as a witness to justice, truth, compassion, and the love of God.
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Photo by Vatican News
From the General Secretary’s Diary continued...
I was glad to be at the Feast on the 14th September in Rome. The feast refers to the discovery by St Helena (the mother of Constantine) of the true cross on Golgotha outside of the walls of Jerusalem Old City. Instead of debating its historical veracity, I cherish Pope Francis’, and now Pope Leo’s invitation to reclaim its meaning to be a remembrance day for the present day martyrs, those who have taken up their cross, denied themselves, and paid the ultimate sacrifice to be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus.
The Feast is now an ecumenical celebration. Under the presidency of the Pope, it took place outside of the walls of old Rome, at the church built over the tomb of St Paul. The place of his martyrdom. It was done in a sensitive manner to include the Orthodox family of churches and the Protestants. For example, the Nicene Creed did not include the ‘Filioque’ clause, we said: “the Spirit who proceeds from the Father.” There was no prayer to Mary. It was a service of the Word and did not include the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, respecting the present state of ecumenical relations. The prayers were said by different representatives and the responses were sang. The remembering of the Martyrs during the Pope’s homily and during the prayers was very moving. Candles were lit and placed at the bottom of the cross. The ecumenical representatives, myself included, were beside the Bishop of Rome at the altar, and uttered the final blessing together.
I was thinking of Heleni Guariba, killed by the Brazilian military dictatorship at the end of the 1960s and dropped in the sea. She was a Methodist struggling against the oppressive regime. I learned about her from Frei Betto (a Dominican Friar) who was in prison with her, but survived to tell the tale. Heleni had helped people to escape out of the country or go underground.
I was glad not to be in London that weekend of the march of the far-right carrying their false crosses. I was privileged to be praying in Rome around the true cross and the memory of the martyrs. That service represented better my aim to pick up my cross and be a witness. The words of Jesus are for me too: “I tell you the truth, “Jesus said, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present life with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29 and 30)
At the service in Rome, the first reading was given by Revd Dr Casely Essamuah, the Secretary of the Global Christian Forum, and an ordained minister of the Methodist Church, Ghana. I had the privilege to lead prayers in my own language: Portuguese. The service can be found in the following link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IkPJn2L9BBs
Rev. Dr. Casely Essamuah Secretary of the Global Christian Forum and author of the book: ‘Genuinely Ghanaian’ Photo by Vatican Media
Faith, Dignity and Justice in Motion
The WMC Youth and Young Adults’ Programme will schedule to make sure there is a YYA group presence at the Conference in this following article. The YYA voices are actively engaged in issues of high human mobility as it is the WMC general theme for the quinquennium 2024-2029: ‘On the Move”. YYA is also active on peace-building initiatives.
Human mobility challenges Church to embody the Gospel in times of displacement.
In the midst of one of the largest migratory movements in modern history – millions of people, in Latin America and around the world, are forced to leave their homes due to violence, poverty, climate change or persecution –, the Church is called to be a living sign of hope. In this spirit, the 2nd International Congress on Human Mobility will take place from 22nd to 24th July 2026, in Panama City, under the theme: “Faith, Dignity and Justice in Motion”.
Organized by the Faculty of Religious Sciences at the Universidad del Centro Educativo Latinoamericano (UCEL), based in Rosario, Argentina, and in partnership with a growing network of universities, churches, faith-based organizations, and international agencies, this Congress is envisioned to become a unique platform for articulating academic research, pastoral commitment, social action, and public advocacy.
A faith that walks with migrant people
The biblical text that inspires this Congress –Leviticus 19:33-34 – reminds us that hospitality is not an option for God’s people but rather an active memory of our own migratory history: “You were foreigners in the land of Egypt”. The theology of migration that undergirds this Congress is profoundly incarnational: it believes in a God who moves, who accompanies, who walks with the displaced and who is found in the margins.
More than a traditional conference, this Congress aims to be a prophetic call. It seeks not merely to speak about migrants, but to speak with them – recognizing their voice, their dignity and their wisdom. The approach is to not reduce human mobility to numbers or statistics, but to understanding it as faces, stories, and spirituality in motion.
A growing journey
This second Congress is part of a dynamic and ongoing process.
In July 2024, the 1st International Congress on Human Mobility was held in Argentina, bringing together relevant ecclesial, academic and social leaders from across Latin America. It has opened a fertile field of dialogue on theology, human rights, and gender issues. Its conclusions laid the groundwork for deepening this path of reflection and action, which is going to continue in Panama.
Transformative axes leading to cooperation and mission
The Congress will address human mobility through four main axes:
1. Academic and Research: Inviting to develop the commitment to producing interdisciplinary knowledge that integrates theology, social sciences, regulation and migration policy.
2. Church and Mission: Proposing a mission that accompany with the Word and action, a liturgy that opens doors of hospitality and a pastoral approach that listens compassionately.
3. Faith-Based Organizations and International Cooperation: Strengthening alliances, assistance programs, rights advocacy, and holistic accompaniment.
4. Public and Political Advocacy: Generating documents and proposals to impact visibility, legislation, and the design of inclusive policies.
Theses axes are called to align themselves with the same goal. This will allow to transform how migration is dealt with. The comprehensive and integrative way proposed will require cooperation and a practical Theology and Mission.
One of the Congress’s most significant milestones will be the presentation of a global advocacy document, aiming to offer – from the perspective of faith and civil society – an alternative voice to current human mobility challenges.
Another significant milestone is the humanitarian station that is going to be introduced during the Congress.
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Faith, Dignity and Justice in Motion
Humanitarian Stations: a concrete sign of hope
The Congress will present a Humanitarian Station in the community of Portobelo (Panama), in partnership with the Red Cross Panama. This innovative device will provide immediate support to migrants in transit, offering them electricity, hot water, and connectivity, contributing to the Family Reunification Program. This innovative device will provide immediate support to migrants in transit, offering them electricity, hot water, and connectivity, contributing to the Family Reunification Program. This initiative is part of UCEL’s International Program for Social Engagement in Global Humanitarian Causes and represents a concrete contribution of organized compassion.
Spirituality in the journey
This Congress proposes also to re-signify Christian life emphasising the spirituality of life’s journey. It aims to inspire a pastoral pedagogy that invites our churches to open their doors and hearts to become active actors realising hope and human relationships.
We know that many communities feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the migratory phenomenon. Yet we believe that, in the midst of fear, indifference, or misinformation, God continues to enlighten the hearts of communities which embrace, accompany and bear witness the miseries of migration.
This Congress will be a space or platform to strengthen different voices, celebrate positive experiences and spread what is possible
A worldwide invitation
From UCEL-Faculty of Religious Sciences, we extend a broad invitation to all who share a deep sense of justice and compassion for humanity. We welcome universities, churches, organizations and leaders from around the world to endorse, participate, collaborate or simply pray for this event that aims to unite faith and justice.
Migration is not a threat but a mirror which reflects our contradictions and our full potential.
As the Church, we have a great opportunity to show the tender and prophetic face of the Gospel. May this Congress be a flame lit in the midst of the journey, a voice for those on the move and a living sign of the Kingdom of God that makes itself present in accompaniment and hospitality.
Fabián Rey Dean – Faculty of Religious Sciences, UCEL
Conversation with the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem
Conversation with Rev. David Hardman of the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem via Zoom was held Wednesday, September 24th.
The Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem is a partnership of the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Church in Great Britain and The United Methodist Church. Its purpose is to increase international awareness and involvement of the Methodist community in the issues affecting Israel and Palestine.
Hosted by WesleyMen, the main goals of the online conversation were two-fold: (1) to listen and build awareness about the current situation in Gaza; (2) to forge collaboration and partnership between
WesleyMen, World Methodist Council and the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem in response to the hunger crisis in Gaza.
Rev. Hardman spoke about the current situation in Gaza & West Bank, what efforts were done so far and what are the needs. After this, time was spent for Q&A and to brainstorm the next steps.
Please join in praying and remembering Gaza, “her starving children, her grieving mothers, her shattered infrastructure, and the silenced cries.”
Watch the webinar here!
Naming Truth to Power
Rev. David Hardman is an Officer at the Methodist Liaison Office Jerusalem. This is a partnership with the Methodist Church in Great Britain, the World Methodist Council and the UMC - General Board of Global Mission.
Recently, I watched the press conference held by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, and Israel, where they presented their findings after two years of investigation. Their conclusion was stark: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
What struck me most was how different this moment felt from the fast-paced world of social media and news today. We are constantly surrounded by instant opinions, misinformation, propaganda, and spin. Yet here was a group of experienced legal professionals, not celebrities or politicians, calmly presenting evidence they had carefully reviewed over a long period. These individuals work for an organisation born out of the horrors of World War II, with a mission to prevent such violence from ever happening again.
The Commission named Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and cited statements from Israeli leaders as evidence of intent. Israel’s official response was to reject the report, calling it false and antisemitic.
This raises a serious question for us as a Church: How do we respond when respected experts speak truth to power? Are we prepared to name this truth - not only to the Israeli government, but also to the arms dealers profiting from the violence, and to our own political leaders who have failed to act?
Imagine if the Wesleyan movement spoke with one united voice — condemning the genocide, urging governments to work together to stop it, and demanding accountability for those responsible. We would be standing on the right side of history. More importantly, we would be helping to end a devastating chapter and offering hope to those still living in Gaza.
So what is stopping us naming this as genocide?
We cannot claim ignorance. This tragedy has unfolded in real time, visible on our screens and social media feeds and experts have examined what has happened in Gaza for 2 years and delivered their verdict: genocide. Calling for this to end is not antisemitic, it is not anti-Israel, and it is not
anti-Jewish. It is a call to uphold international law and protect ordinary lives.
If we remain silent, we risk being complicit and how then can we stand before God?
The commission stated that they had focussed on Gaza but that it recognised that there were concerns about Israel’s occupation and policy in the West Bank. Here is just one example of what is happening to Palestinians…
At our last MLO Update and Prayer Meeting*, we heard from Khalil Hathaleen, a resident of Umm Al Khair, a Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills, West Bank.
Earlier this year, the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council and I visited Umm Al Khair. The village was established by Palestinians who were expelled from Tel Arad by the newly formed Israeli state. They purchased land and built homes. However, in 1981, Israeli settlers founded the Carmel settlement just meters away from the village.
In June 2024, the Israeli military (IDF) demolished a third of the village, destroying 11 homes, including 5 tents, and leaving 50 shepherds homeless. They also destroyed the village’s electricity generator, solar panels, and water tanks.
General
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Secretary of the World Methodist Council, Rev. Dr. Reynaldo F. Leão Neto with Officer of the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem Rev. David Hardman listen to peace activist in Umm Al-Khair –Photo Credit: Kevin Synman
Naming Truth to Power continued...
Khalil shared what happened on 28 July 2024: Israeli settlers entered the village with a bulldozer and began digging near water and electricity pipes. Villagers asked them to move to another area. After finishing, one settler drove the bulldozer through a private olive grove, damaging trees and land. When a villager tried to stop him, the bulldozer knocked the person unconscious. In response, villagers threw stones at the bulldozer.
Then, Yinon Levi, a settler already sanctioned by the UK and EU, began shooting at the villagers. He killed Khalil’s brother, Awdah. Awdah was a peace activist and practiced non-violent resistance against the occupation of the West Bank by Israel. The IDF described the incident as ”terrorists” hurling stones at Israeli civilians near the area of Carmel in Judea.
Pictured Right: Rev. Dr. Leo listening to Bob an American Jewish Peace activist in Umm Al-Khair - Photo by: Kevin Synman
The next day, an Israeli court accepted Levi’s claim of “self-defense” and placed him under house arrest for three days. He was then released and continues to visit Umm Al Khair, as settler intimidation of the village continues.
This is violent settler colonialism supported by the state.
*Methodist Liaison Office Update and Prayer Meeting 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month 8pm (Jerusalem) 6pm (UK) 1pm (US-Eastern) 2pm (US-Midwest). 40-minute meeting for joining details please contact office@mlojerusalem.org
Pictured Left: Rev. Dr. Reynaldo F. Leão Neto, Rev. David Hardman and Rev. Dr. Jin Yang King, Liaison for Peace and Justice, and the Middle East, GBGM, UMC, in the South Hebron Hills - Photo by: Kevin Synman
Methodist Church in Rome welcomes President Mattarella
Rome (NEV/CS29), September 17, 2025 - On the occasion of the celebrations of September 20, a date that commemorates the Breccia di Porta Pia of 1870 and the start of religious freedom in the capital, the Methodist Church of Via XX Settembre welcomed the visit of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
The day, which this year also marks the 130th anniversary of the inauguration of the Roman Methodist temple (September 20, 1895) and the 50th of the Pact of Integration between Methodists and Valdesis, that were divided into different moments of memory and celebration.
At 11 the official ceremony was held with the presence of the Head of State opened by the greetings of the moderator of the Valdese Table, deacon Alessandra Trotta, the president of the Opera for the Methodist evangelical churches in Italy (OPCEMI), pastor Luca Anziani and the pastor of the Methodist church of via XX Settembre, Mirella Manocchio.
Historical insights proposed by the Methodist Documentation Center in Italy and the story of the current situation of the Methodist church in Rome followed (download the complete program here). Evangelical hymns by the choirs of the Italian and Korean Methodist churches, directed respectively by Irene Grassi and Seung Yeon Ko, were performed.
The Methodist church shares with the Valden church the Agreement with the Italian State of 1984 since 1975 the two churches have been integrated into the Union of Methodist and Valdensian Evangelical Churches. Agreement “that allows us to have recognized and visible cult buildings - recalls Mirella Manocchio - tools of intertwining and encounter with society, of lived participation with the territory. We believe that this possibility must apply to all
faiths, many of which are still without understanding: for this reason we support a framework law on religious freedom. The Methodist church remains a minority that lives secularism in search of religious freedom for itself and for others, with attention to other communities of faith, in continuity with the openness of John Wesley, founder of Methodism.
The church in via XX Settembre, in the same building as the OPCEMI, “on the occasion of the presence of President Sergio Mattarella - explained Pastor Luca Anziani - chose a public value: not a self-celebration, but the testimony of a church that, in 130 years, has linked the evangelical mission to the social and democratic pact. It is not possible to announce Jesus Christ without incarnating in the events and wounds of the territory. It is the meaning of our vocation: to remain in dialogue with politics, culture and society, especially today, when the democratic and social pacts that have built Europe are dramatically cracking, and peace and justice remain priorities.
The day was also (see the photo above of a photographic exhibition) dedicated to the building and the history of the Methodist missions curated by the director of the Valdesian Cultural Center Foundation, Davide Rosso. Noteworthy, in the building of worship, the presence of the precious artistic stained glass designed by Paolo Antonio Paschetto - the “pencil theologist” born 140 years ago, also author of the emblem of the Italian Republic - made by the master glassmaker Cesare Picchiarini, recently restored as part of the implementation agreement of the Protocol of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, the Higher Institute for Conservation and Restoration and the Valdese Table.
Article by: Agenzia NEC
The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in Torre Pellice (Turin), 2023 - Photo courtesy of the Quirinale
President Mattarella meeting Revds Luca Anziani, Mirella Manocchio, and Laura Nitti Church Council President of the Methodist Church Roma via XX Settembre and Rev Eliad Dias Dos Santos, Pastor of the same church.
2025 - Prayer partnership with the WMC through its Education and Theological Education Programme Committee
Prayer Partner Project Returns September 15 to November 15
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)
We often talk about discipleship in terms of worship, study, or service. But what if one of the most transformative steps we can take is simply… prayer?
The Prayer Partner Project is more than an eventit’s a spiritual practice that helps individuals and churches deepen their faith through intentional prayer partnerships. Rooted in trust, accountability, and love, this project strengthens the foundation of Christian discipleship.
This fall, consider how your church might engage in this simple yet powerful practice, from small groups to intergenerational ministry. Individuals are also invited to sign up independently and will be supported every step of the way. Prayer is more than a discipline; it’s a way of walking together with Christ.
This year, we’re excited to collaborate with the World Methodist Council (WMC) Education/Theology Committee’s Education Subcommittee to expand the impact of this global prayer movement.
“The World Methodist Council is made up of 80 Methodist, Wesleyan and related Uniting and United Churches representing over 80 million members in 138 countries.” Learn more at worldmethodistcouncil.org.
Register Here today!
If you participated in previous years, you do not need to sign up again. You are automatically registered unless you choose to unsubscribe. Participants from prior years may decide to continue with their existing prayer partner or find a new one.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Pick your prayer partner!
• Register online to receive the prayer toolkit for you and your prayer partner.
• Decide how often you and your partner will pray for each other.
• Decide how often you and your partner will communicate. (Will you get together in person or by phone, email, or text?)
• Join our Facebook group to receive resources and share your stories.
• Sign up to receive daily devotions, such as The Upper Room Daily Devotion, Sight Psalms, or New Every Morning. (See below to sign up.)
• Encourage others to join the Prayer Partner Project.
ACTIVITIES PRAYER PARTNERS CAN DO TOGETHER
• Share prayer requests with your prayer partner.
• Pray the Lord’s Prayer at the same time every day. (Set your alarm for a specific time; when it goes off, pray the Lord’s Prayer, then pray for each other.)
• Decide how often to pray for each other, perhaps once a day after waking or before bed.
• Read one of the daily devotions (see below) and share your thoughts (or one word) by texting, calling, or emailing.
• Get together before or after weekly worship to share prayers at a coffee shop or on a walk together.
TIMELINE
Now until Early September – sign up online.
On September 15, we will start the Prayer Partner Project together. (You will receive an email.) If you are doing this as a local church or a group (United Women in Faith, Bible study, and so forth), this may be an excellent time to gather people so prayer partners can meet and decide how often they will communicate. After the project concludes, you can have a special worship service to celebrate with testimonies.
The Prayer Partner Project concludes on November 15.
For more information or to register visit here!
European Methodist Lecture Program (EMLP) 2025
Methodist-related Schools in Europe (MTSE)
Wesley House Cambridge (GBHEM LEAD Hub Britain) | Reutlingen School of Theology (GBHEM LEAD Hub Europe) supported by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church (UMC)
Climate Justice? Theological, Spiritual, Political and Practical Dimensions
In this 5th series of the European Methodist Lecture Program (EMLP), we explore the theological, spiritual, political, and practical dimensions of the evolving climate crisis. The series is designed to enable ministry practitioners in Europe to reflect on the mission and ministry of the church in the light of the global implications of climate change and to engage with the big theological and spiritual questions that concern what it means to be human in relation to an increasingly volatile natural world; what it means to be justice-seeking in the context of uneven climate change resilience; and what we think God’s purposes are for creation. The European Methodist Lecture Program is an online program (via video conferences). Speakers from various countries, Methodist traditions, theological expertise, and ecumenical contexts will give their insights and present their perspectives and research on “Climate Justice” from a theological perspective. The lectures are followed by discussions in groups and in plenary sessions. The EMLP brings together students, theologians, clergy, and lay persons from all over Europe and beyond – from different backgrounds and cultures. It offers a learning space on intercultural and international level.
The sessions take place via video conference from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (90 minutes). The language of the lectures and the discussions is English. The link for the video conferences will be provided to those registered at the beginning of October 2025.
To register, please follow these steps:
1. “Create new account” (first time users) or “Log in” at OpenCampus: Reutlingen School of Theology: https://th-reutlingen.opencampus.com/user/login (Select between English or German on the top right side.).
2. Register for the “European Methodist Lecture Program” (1. Add your contact address; 2. Register for the course): https://th-reutlingen.opencampus.com/de/node/42020
For any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Stephan von Twardowski | LEAD Hub Europe: stephan.twardowski@th-reutlingen.de.
Members of the World Methodist Council Steering Committee meet in Accra, Ghana in August 2025.
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 Friday, 24 October at communications@worldmethodistcouncil.org if you would like your story to be included in the November edition of the First Friday Letter.
On the Web
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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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