The preparations for the Methodist Conference 2005 are now in full-scale as the event in the summer approaches. The Methodist Conference will be held on 24-30 June in Torquay, UK. Following the latest meeting of the Methodist Council at High Leigh in Hertfordshire, the major topics to be discussed at the Conference were set, according to the Good News UK.

One of the focuses of the Conference will be the mission for students or young people. It was said that the Methodist Council has approved a report recommending that the churches and circuits are the primary location for the Church’s engagement with students. Therefore, the Council has stressed the need for local churches to give student work a high priority and be more flexible in doing youth work, so that more students can be involved.

In addition, a report looking at the works of the 20s and 30s group within the Church has been accepted by the Council. This report is spearheaded by some new mission initiatives in the Church, such as the 11th Commandment competition, the Methodist sponsorship of the Church of Fools online church, and the Mocktails contest. It looked at how the Church can better engage with young people and allow young people to engage with God.

The Ecumenical movement is another highlight of the Conference, particularly regarding the relationship between the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church, in face of the challenges of homosexuality clergy, same-sex union and women bishops within the Anglican Communion worldwide. The growing liberal views on these issues have threatened the Methodist Church and made the Church reconsider whether the ecumenical relationship could be maintained.

The Joint Implementation Group (JIG), a report set up by the Methodist and Anglican churches after they signed their Covenant in November 2003, was received on the meeting of the Methodist Council this time. It will be presented to both the Methodist Conference and the Church of England General Synod this summer.

A wide range of issues such as developing common practices on the bread and wine used in Communion and how the Methodist Diaconal Order and Anglican Deacons can work closer together will be addressed.

Rev Peter Sulston, Methodist coordinating secretary for Unity in Mission, told the Council, "There are varied moves within different parts of the churches. We encourage meetings between relevant parts of the churches structures so that they can identify the most appropriate pattern for partnerships in their areas. We also stress that wherever possible such talks should also include other ecumenical partners."

Several suggestions regarding human resources management were proposed in order to create a more diverse church that brings together people from all walks of life to serve God.

The Methodist Church Standing Orders have long allowed ministers and deacons from other denominations to become associate ministers or associate deacons serving the Methodist Church. However, as ministers from other churches within Britain and from across the world come to serve the British Methodist Church, they are under some degree of control from the Methodist Church.

The new designations of associate ministers and deacons will allow clergy from other churches to undertake specific functions (for example leading worship, preaching or offering pastoral care) on behalf of the Methodist Church while remaining under the authority of their own churches.

This new change is expected to bring more clergy from other churches to become involved in the life and work of the Methodist Church.

Rev Ken Howcroft, Methodist coordinating secretary for Conference and communication, said, "This proposed change would allow local ecumenical work to proceed on a more formal basis, for the benefit of the churches involved and the people they work with."

The Methodist Conference is the governing body of the Methodist Church which meets in June each year in a different part of the country. The Conference is presided over by the President of Conference who is a Methodist Minister, supported by the Vice President who can be a lay person or a deacon. This year, it will be held at the Riviera Centre Troquary, hosted jointly by the Bristol, Channel Islands, Cornwall, Southampton, and Plymouth and Exeter Methodist Districts.