PELITA - The Methodist Church Newsletter
Listed below are articles abstracted from past issues of PELITA
September 2008 - 9th Session General Conference
15-20 September 2008, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Spreading Scriptural Holiness, Transforming the Nation
The Methodist Church in Malaysia held its quadrennial General Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah with the Sabah Provisional Annual Conference playing hosts.
About 100 delegates, guests, observers and helpers gathered at Tang Dynasty Park Hotel for six days of conferencing. The opening Communion Service was held at the Shern En Methodist Church, Kota Kinabalu.
The fraternal guests were Bishop Roy I. Sano of the United Methodist Church, USA; Rev Dr Stephen Wigley, Chair of the District of Wales of the British Methodist Church; Bishop Albert Chiew of the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia; Bishop Amat Tumino of the Methodist Church in Indonesia and Bishop Dr Robert Solomon of the Methodist Church in Singapore, who joined the Conference later in the week after their own General Conference the week before.
The theme chosen for the next quadrennium is: Spreading Scriptural Holiness, Transforming the Nation. Dr William J. Abraham, Professor of Wesley Studies at Southern Methodist University, USA gave four morning sermons based on the theme.
Bishop Hwa Yung, in his Episcopal Address, noted the state of our nation today in which the Methodist Church exists. He called for the Church to seriously consider her role in the social and political life of the nation. He gave an overview of the developments in the Methodist Church in the past four years, and ended with proposals for the way forward with long term as well as specific goals for the next quadrennium. (See the full text of his address on page 4).
The Conference met to receive reports from its agencies, consider petitions and proposed amendments to the Methodist Discipline, and hold elections for the Judicial Council and other officers of the Church.
Among the matters that were debated and decided perhaps three were of particular significance. The first was the issue of the Episcopal Model for the Methodist Church. Proposals for having six or seven bishops were considered. Time was given for delegates to hear each other, for or against change from the status quo, in small groups as well as in plenary. The vote was against change to the present model. However, the Conference agreed to set up a task force to look into a thorough study of the issue and all its implications, as there were legitimate concerns and reasons for these proposals.
The second was the proposal to remove the current restrictions in the Discipline to hold office and vote for members above 70 years of age. The main argument for removing the restrictions was the recognition of the right of any member to serve and vote, as is the case for any citizen of the country. The arguments against were based on the fact that there is a retirement age for many areas of work, and that this allows greater opportunities for younger members to take up leadership.
The Conference decided to retain the restrictions, with the exception of the President of the Methodist Seniors Fellowship. He or she, if above 70 years, has the right to vote in the Annual and Local Conference.
The third matter of significance was a major update to the Social Principles in the Methodist Discipline. The Discipline Review Council proposed additions and amendments that would bring these Principles up to date with current developments in various fields of ethics, the environment, social, political and religious issues in our own context. These were all generally welcomed by the Conference delegates.
Bishop Hwa Yung was reelected for another term, on the first ballot. Mr Tung Kam Seng retired as Conference Secretary after sixteen years in that office. He was given a standing ovation in appreciation of his diligent and faithful service. Mr Anthony Row was elected the new Conference Secretary. Mr John Ting was reelected Conference Treasurer.
This Conference saw one new thing added to its usual agenda of business. This was the incorporation of workshop discussions on four areas of importance for further development in the Methodist Church, namely, Missions, Church & Society, Discipleship, and Evangelism & Church Planting.
Four papers were presented as the basis for discussion in the workshops. The goal was to highlight the issues of concern and for development, and to make proposals for concrete action to be taken. These would form the basis for a roadmap for the Methodist Church to move forward in the next two quadrennia and beyond.
Another event outside of the usual business of the General Conference was the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the autonomous Methodist Church in Malaysia. The SPAC took this upon them and organized a grand thanksgiving dinner and entertaining night for about 1000 guests. It was good to remind ourselves of how God has been faithful and blessed the Methodist Church through these years.
While the issues and concerns of the Church were discussed with care and attention, the current political situation and the attendant social and economic issues were always in the background. The Conference was conscious of the new challenges that confronted the Methodist Church, which called for an understanding of its role and responsibilities in nation building.
Early in the conference a small “listening group” was formed to draft a press statement that would reflect the concerns of the Methodist Church in Malaysia. The Conference, after some debate, approved the press statement that would be released to all the news agencies in the country. (The full statement is printed in this issue.)
The Conference adjourned after the Rededication service of Bishop Hwa Yung at Shern En Methodist Church.
Christopher Cheah