CONFERENCE 2024
5th - 8th june

About

Conference

 

The supreme court of the church is the Conference, which is the final authority in the Church in all matters of doctrine, worship, discipline and order.

The first conference in Ireland was called by John Wesley in 1752 and was held in Limerick. With a few exceptions, the Irish Conference had been chaired by the successor of John Wesley, the President of the Methodist Church in England, until recently. In the last number of years the Church has elected a President annually, who chairs the Conference and other committees throughout the year, as well as visiting Methodist congregations all over the island and representing the Church in the public sphere.

Lay and ordained people, both men and women are involved in decision making at all levels. The Methodist Church in Ireland has ordained women since 1978, and women may serve in all positions in the Church. A system of committees deals with a variety of issues within the Church, e.g. Faith and Order, Inter-Church relations, Social Responsibility.

Rev Dr Heather Morris

Secretary of Conference

The Secretary of Conference acts as the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Ireland. The Secretary of Conference fulfils the functions of Chief Executive of the Church, reporting to, and held accountable by the Governance Board. The Secretary of Conference is responsible for ensuring that the direction which the Conference has set is implemented across the life of the Church.

Before being stationed to this role Heather served as General Secretary of the Home Mission Department, Director of Ministry, as minister in Dundonald Methodist Church and as junior minister in Grosevenor Hall, as well as having a time without pastoral charge when her sons were young.

The Work of Conference

 
 

Governance Reform

Governance Structures And Processes

Report & Reccomendations prepared by the Governance Working Group

Download report

Feedback on Consultation Process

Prepared by the Governance Working Group

Download

Governance Reform FAQ

Find out more: FAQ's addressing key areas of the Governance Reform

Download

Conference Resources

key resources and publications

Minutes of Conference 2023

Download the Minutes of Conference as a PDF

Followers of Jesus Together

Watch various sessions from Conference 2023

Living Wholeheartedly Podcast

with General Secretary, Rev Dr Heather Morris