We welcome the announcement that Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of a deal that will release all hostages and see Israeli troops withdraw to an agreed line.
More than 1,700 children and young people aged between 4 to 18 years old went on “The Journey of a Lifetime” last weekend, Friday 3 to Sunday 5 October, at 3Generate, the Methodist Children and Youth Assembly held at the NEC, Birmingham.
One of those welcoming the young people was Genesis Padgett, the Methodist Youth President, who offers this report on the event.
The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference and local Methodists have responded with prayers, sadness and solidarity to this morning's attack at a Manchester synagogue.
More that 1,800 young people and hundreds of volunteers will make their way to Birmingham tomorrow (Friday 3 October) for a weekend that will be the ‘Journey of a Lifetime’, where children and young people will explore what it means to take their next steps in living a Methodist way of life.
With tensions rising in communities across the UK, the Methodist Church has released a new recording of the hymn ‘Let us build a house where love can dwell’, known to many as ‘All Are Welcome’. More than 140 Methodist churches contributed their voices to the project.
Methodist leaders, including the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, have joined with those from other church traditions to sign a letter expressing concerns about movements that seek to inflame societal division.
The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has formally announced the UK's recognition of the State of Palestine. This marks a significant and welcome shift in British foreign policy, moving away from using recognition as leverage in negotiations, and instead affirming the Palestinians’ inherent right to self-determination and equal participation in peace talks.
The new Methodist Youth President, Genesis Padgett (them/they), aged 19, was welcomed to their new role with a service at their home church, Emmanuel Methodist Church in Barnsle, on Sunday morning, 14 September. Also attending were the President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Richard Andrew, and the Vice-President, Matthew Forsyth, along with family and friends of Genesis.