The incoming Methodist Conference Vice President John Bell gave his first address on Sunday 26th June morning at the worship service on the Methodist Conference 2005. He welcomed a diverse assembly of people and invited them to reflect on faith, ministry and Church from their own perspectives.

In face of the diversifying community in the 21st century Methodist Church of Great Britain, Bell said that diversity comes from faith. He mentioned about the report regarding human sexuality "Pilgrimage of Faith", explaining the standpoint of the Church on homosexual clergy and same-sex blessings. As there are many different opinions about the issue, it is a great challenge to the Church.

Bell tried to encourage all Methodists to keep their absolute faith, "Perhaps, the broader our base, the stronger we may become. Let us hold this in our minds when we consider the Conference report Pilgrimage of Faith, reflecting our shared journey on human sexuality. No, we haven't arrived; the journey is not straightforward; maybe we don't even know the destination. But let us continue to journey, safely, together."

In a similar way, faith and diversity should be carried into different ministries in the Church. Bell spoke of the need to recognise the value of lay ministry: "Yes, we may engage in the work of the gathered church, but we have enormous opportunity to exercise our Christian ministry where we work or otherwise commit and spend our time (whether in parenting, in retirement, in community service, in many other situations)."

At the end of the service, Bell said the Church is not just about numbers. He said, "If we reflect on the Old Testament idea of the remnant of Israel, maybe we are the Christian remnant today in whom God has put his trust. But we cannot be content that God expects nothing of us: Jesus' great commission in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations is direct enough. It's neither complacency nor panic, but faith and vision with a strong dose of honesty and realism that are needed."

Finally Bell called for the Church to be open to new insights in the search for and pilgrimage with God, for which being open to the person and work of Jesus and the inspirational challenge of discipleship is essential.

Four key challenges for each and every member of the Church are suggested by Bell: upholding the faithful through pastoral support; finding fresh ways or being and doing church; working in partnership with those of other denominations and learning from the confidence and success of our partner churches in other continents.

After the morning worship service yesterday, an ordination service was held in the afternoon. The Conference will close on Thursday.