At first there was John Wesley and his brother Charles, having been tutored so deliberately and methodically by their mother, Susanna. Soon they were joined by a handful of friends - people like John Clayton, George Whitefield, Benjamin Ingham, James Hervey, J. Broughton, John Whitelamb, John Gambold, Westley Hall , Charles Kinchin and others. They were referred to in Oxford as “The Holy Club,” “The Godly Club,” “Bible Moths,” and “Supererogation Men.” The monikers assigned to this little band of students were not always flattering.

Sixty-three years later, as John Wesley closed his eyes for the last time, having traveled thousands of miles on foot and on horseback, that little band of college boys had grown to nearly 300 preachers in Britain alone and more than 70,000 members. Classes, bands, and select societies were meeting; the poor were receiving both spiritual and material care; and the common people were hearing the glad tidings of salvation in chapels and in fields.

Today, Methodism encompasses a community of some 72 million people who live within the church’s vast sphere of influence. The Methodist Church is growing at the rate of one million members per year throughout the world - everywhere except Europe and North America. In the last decade alone, Methodism has grown by 80 percent. As General Secretary Dr. Joe Hale says so simply: “It’s a big world; I’ve been around the world many times. It’s a big world.” Could anything more demonstrably attest to the enduring influence of the Wesleyan movement and the universality of its principles?

The World Methodist Council is composed of 74 church bodies with common roots in the Methodist tradition. The first gathering of the council was in 1881, where 400 Methodists representing 30 countries gathered in Wesley’s chapel in London. The council has met every five years since. The 2001 gathering in Brighton, England, is the 18th convening of this body, the voting body for the World Methodist Conference. The conference is the educational, inspirational and fraternal body of Methodists around the world.

The 500-member council is a self-governing body deriving its advisory and administrative authority from the churches that constitute its membership. The council meets at least once in each five-year period. It convenes the World Methodist Conference. The council has no authority over churches. The relationship is clearly one of “free association,” explained retiring general secretary Hale. However, there are certain programs and activities the churches have agreed to accomplish through their work together. These include the following.

World Exchange of Ministers
World Evangelism
The Oxford Institute
World Methodist Historical Society
World Peace Award
International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities
Dialogue with other Christian groups

The Council gathered in Brighton, England, July 24 to conduct its administrative and executive activities prior to the convening of the World Methodist Conference July 26 - July 31. The agenda was filled with business both mundane and ordinary (if anything this dramatic and global in scope can be considered mundane or ordinary) as well as historical benchmarks that could truly affect not only this worldwide organization but also other denominations and organizations that relate to the council. Budget and organizational issues necessarily demand a portion of attention and detail. Plans for the future and the $20 million endowment necessary to ensure that future were part of the agenda, as were inspirational and challenging reminders that indeed for Methodists, “the world is our parish.” No organization could convince us more readily of the importance of the connexion that unites Methodists everywhere.

The council conducted its business in an orderly and systematic fashion. Some of the issues were sensitive, and obviously feelings were strong. However, it is important to note that even when the critical and controversial issues were discussed and strong disagreement was evident, the participants conducted themselves in a manner that reflected their respect for one another and their willingness to seek common ground rather than to overcome and overpower with harsh language or displays of anger so often characteristic of such church bodies.

One of the topics upon which there was uniform agreement was the standing expressions of appreciation to Jane and Royce Reynolds of Greensboro for their support, which has enabled the World Methodist Conference to expand its administrative offices at Lake Junaluska. The Reynoldses modestly accepted this international recognition and stated again their firmly held belief that they were only stewards of the opportunities God had provided for them.

But there was another topic that was not so completely acceptable. When the time came for acceptance of applications for membership from other groups, quick and enthusiastic endorsements were given to the applications of The Chinese Methodist Church in Australia, The Bangladesh Methodist Church and The Methodist Church of Colombia. However, considerable discussion was generated by the application of The Salvation Army.

Everyone in the hall greatly appreciated the work of the Army. There were testimonials to the wonderful accomplishments of this organization around the world. And clearly there were many parallels between The Salvation Army and Methodism. However, the possibility of their joining the World Methodist Conference brought up important questions concerning criteria for membership in the organization.

The category of Christian world religions is truly complex. When you decide to enter into formal relationship with another church body, you raise questions about your own organization. For example, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not conditions of membership in The Salvation Army. To question this is not to question the multitude of good things the Army accomplishes. However, there are significant differences in practice of the Army and the member denominations of the World Methodist Conference. The conclusion to the discussion concerning The Salvation Army was to ask The Uniting Church of Australia to continue its exploration and associations with the Army and to report its activities to the Ecumenism and Dialogue Committee of the World Methodist Council.

Among the activities and actions of importance were the retirement of Dr. Joe Hale, who has served as general secretary of the World Methodist Conference for 25 years. To his honor he was named general secretary emeritus. In turn the council elected as the new general secretary the Rev. George H. Freeman, formerly senior minister of River Road Church in Richmond, Va. In addition, Dr. Denis Chandraraj Dutton from Singapore, Malaysia, was named secretary for the Geneva, Switzerland, office.

The World Methodist Council is the voting arm of the World Methodist Conference. With its business completed, the council began immediately to make arrangements for the more than 3000 individuals who would attend the conference beginning July 26. These 3000 individuals came from 130 countries representing more than 36 million Methodists for the first World Methodist Conference of the 21st century. They came with scores of languages, but with one voice…to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the way of salvation.

As the World Methodist Conference convened, several themes became evident both in song and proclamation: “Jesus Christ: The Way of Salvation,” “Preach faith until you have it, then preach faith because you have it,” “Get a bigger picture of God.” Songs inspired as the Chapelwood Choir of Houston, Texas, opened the Conference, followed shortly by the Korean Women’s Choir, whose delicate forms and melodious voices inspired the conference although few could understand the native language in which they sang. Indeed it is true, as a wonderful Franciscan monk told me in Ireland, “You Methodists have all the pretty tunes.”

Conference keynote speaker Dr. David Wilkinson of Durham, England, sounded the theme of the conference when he said, “It is the responsibility of Christian leadership to listen to what questions people have.” To be filled with glib answers of the day and to spread them forth at the slightest invitation is not to give leadership to others, it is to display to others the pat phrases you may have mastered, in hopes that others will be impressed.

Wilkinson’s words remind us of the sage advice of the French philosopher Voltaire, who said, “If you would speak to me, you must first learn my language.” The church has been expecting the world to speak its language rather than learning the languages of the world. The World Methodist Conference demonstrated its intention to learn the language of the world, the whole wide world, and then take the time-honored Gospel truth to that world that assures for all people everywhere, “Jesus Christ: The Way of Salvation.” In Jesus Christ the “Connexion,” for which Methodists are known, takes shape, and “The World Becomes Our Parish.”

Charles Wesley taught us to sing, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise.” At the World Methodist Conference, Charles Wesley, John Wesley, Samuel and Susanna Wesley and all the people called Methodists everywhere would have been thrilled with the rousing choruses presented by 3000 voices singing God’s praise in scores of languages.