Cantrell represents Holston at World Methodist Council meeting
By Wil Cantrell
The World Methodist Council executive committee meeting, held Sept. 15-18 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, were highlighted by the adoption of two resolutions. The first resolution sought to articulate a Methodist understanding of Islam and called for the World Methodist Council (WMC) and its member churches to be in dialogue with our Muslim neighbors.
The second resolution acknowledged the struggles of the church throughout the world with issues relating to human sexuality and also acknowledged that there is no worldwide consensus on these issues. The resolution, therefore, asked members to continue to be in Christian dialogue about this issue in order to prevent future schism.
For more on these resolutions, see the United Methodist News Service articles, "World Methodist leaders adopt statement on witness to Muslims" and "World Methodist leaders adopt statement on unity, sexuality."
During the meetings, as part of my participation on the Social and International Affairs Committee of the World Methodist Council, I was privileged to see firsthand some of the ministries existing in Port Elizabeth and the surrounding communities – all supported by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. We toured areas known as the "flats," which some might refer to as shanty towns. During our tour, we saw a preschool consisting of a small outdoor yard and a building not larger than 8 feet by 10 feet. The building was constructed of tin tacked to 2 x 4s, which were driven into the ground as supports. The preschool had two teachers and 17 children.
One of the teachers told us that she had the training and background to work in schools in a more affluent part of town with better facilities and salaries, yet she stayed at the preschool because of her passion for the children.
After our visit to the preschool, we visited an orphanage, which was contained entirely in small three-bedroom house where a single woman cared for eight children. Many of the children had lost their parents to AIDS.
Our journey concluded as we joined a women's group that visits and seeks to provide medical help and advice for those living with AIDS. The women made their rounds from house to house, and in each place I found myself amazed at the graciousness of our hosts as they made us feel at home and put up with our inability to pronounce their names.
After our visits to preschools, orphanages, AIDS ministries, and Methodist churches, I found myself newly convicted of the terrors of poverty and inspired by the gracious spirits of the Methodists in those communities.
As the meetings came to a close, I had the privilege of preaching for the council's closing communion service -- an experience I will not soon forget. The text of my sermon was 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. The theme of my sermon was reconciliation in order to help the council prepare for the theme of the upcoming meetings in Seoul in 2006. It was a high honor and truly humbling experience to preach on reconciliation in a land whose people have taught the world so much about reconciliation.
The WMC is now preparing for meetings of the entire World Methodist Council and the following World Methodist Conference gathering that will take place in Seoul, South Korea, in 2006, under the theme: "God in Christ Reconciling." It was a privilege and blessing to represent the Holston Conference on the WMC.
One of the greatest challenges facing the WMC continues to be communication with its member churches. I invite anyone who would like to know more to visit the WMC website (www.worldmethodistcouncil.org), to download the resolutions, and to consider using the resolutions as a teaching opportunity in your local church settings.
The Rev. Cantrell is associate pastor at Middlebrook Pike UMC, Knoxville District.
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