|TOP|The Methodist Conference will head north of the border for the first time this year when it takes place at the Edinburgh Conference Centre at the city’s Heriot-Watt University from June 24th to 29th.

The ruling body of the Church will come together for the five-day meeting to set the rules and policy and explore key issues for the Church.

The 384 voting members of the Conference will be joined by thousands of visitors for the event that will see the induction of the new President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Graham Carter, and the new Vice President, Mr Dudley Coates.

Conference Sunday will also see about 60 new Methodist presbyters and deacons received into full connexion and ordained at services around Edinburgh and Lothian.

|AD|Methodists in numerous towns across Scotland, including Inverness and Aberdeen, as well as the north of England, including Durham, will be able to come together for one great evening of celebrations through services to be held simultaneously.

The newly inducted Rev Graham will make a visit to the Scottish Parliament together with the General Secretary of The Methodist Church of the Rev David Deeks where they will have lunch with the Presiding Officer of the Parliament and conduct the Time for Reflection. Their visit will be followed by that of the Vice President the following afternoon.

A major new report, ‘Peacemaking, a Christian Vocation’ will also be launched at the Conference. Jointly produced with the United Reformed Church, the report investigates the ethics of war, the need to work actively for peace, the role of peacekeeping troops, and the response to terrorism.

One of the key issues to be debated by Conference is the use of funds in relation to conflict in Israel and Palestine as part of a wider discussion on ethical investment.

Conference will also explore issues related to human sexuality including what advice should be given to ministers asked to bless a same-sex civil partnership in the Church. The discussion will follow the launch of a major report into the Pilgrimage of Faith, the Church’s ongoing discussion about human sexuality, at last year’s Conference.

Other issues up for debate include the terms and conditions on which ministers serve, the future structure of the Methodist Church in Wales and a proposal for a major review of stationing – the Church’s policy on deploying ministers and deacons.