In 1932 the British Methodist Conference adopted the practice of electing a lay vice-president, the president always being a minister. The first woman to be elected vice-president took office in 1948 and there have been several since. The current vice-president is Sister Eluned Williams of Wales. The first woman to be elected president of the conference was the Rev Kathleen Richardson, now Baroness Richardson, who was president in 1992-93.
The conference, which met at Huddersfield this month, designated those to take office in 2001, and for the first time the two offices will be held simultaneously by women.
The president-designate is the Rev Dr Christina Le Moignan, who currently occupies the chair of the Birmingham district. Born in Yorkshire, Dr Le Moignan taught for some years at Ibadan University in Nigeria, before her ordination. She has ministered mostly in the south of England.
The vice-president-designate is Mrs Ann Leck of Oxfordshire. A teacher before her marriage, she has been greatly involved in marriage counselling and preparation, and her work in this field was rewarded with the MBE in 1996. She and her husband have four children and nine grandchildren.
Some weeks ago we noted teams of Irish Methodists visiting Sri Lanka, the US and Kenya this summer. The travel is not all out of Ireland. In the last week a team of young Methodists from Finland has been visiting the Dublin area, and in August a team from Germany will be based in the Enniskillen and Sligo district.
During his presidential year, the Rev Kenneth Todd will often be out of his circuit in Cork, and preaching and pastoral care during that time is being given by the Rev Dr Bill Perkins. Dr Perkins and his wife, Carol, worked in an Irish circuit some years ago and enjoyed the experience so much that they have lost no opportunity of returning to this country, making a very acceptable contribution to life in several circuits.
August 5th to 12th is Castlewellan Week, when several hundred Methodists and other families gather at Castlewellan Castle, either staying in the castle or pitching tents and parking caravans in the grounds. The week is spent in a variety of outdoor sports, mingled with Bible study and worship. It attracts families from all parts of the country.
Tomorrow morning the president of the church, the Rev Kenneth Todd, will be preaching in the Methodist Church at Portstewart, and on Sunday, August 6th, he will be sharing in the Castlewellan Week. At 10.45 a.m. tomorrow RTE 1 medium wave will broadcast morning worship from the Methodist church at Newcastle, Co Down. It will be led by the minister, the Rev John Brookes.
The United Bible Societies report a considerable growth in the demand for Bibles in China, where almost three million copies were distributed last year. They quote one church leader there as saying, "There can be no doubt that the survival, revival and growth of the Chinese church over the last 50 years is one of the greatest miracles of church history".