CONFERENCE 2025
5TH - 7TH JUNE
thomas street methodist church, portadown
LIVING Wholeheartedly
AS followers of Jesus
FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD.
The two hundred and fifty-sixth Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland met in Thomas Street Methodist Church in Portadown from Thursday 5th June until Saturday 7th June 2025.
The Ministerial Session took place on the Thursday with the Representative Session beginning on Thursday evening with the Installation Service of the Rev Alan Wardlow as President.
You can catch up on all of the representative sessions, the Installation Service, the Ordination Service, the Bible Studies, Worship and more on our YouTube channel.
▶ CONFERENCE OFFERING
GIVE A GIFT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RUNNING COSTS OF CONFERENCE 2025
As a Connexion we continue to explore what it means to live ‘wholeheartedly as followers of Jesus for the transformation of the world'.
In the Connexional year ahead, we will focus on how, empowered and filled with the Spirit, we are compelled by God's love to share the Gospel.
As we hear this word compel, we hear it in light of the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:14 as he declares to the Church in Corinth that the love of Christ compels him. Paul is so convinced, so consumed, so transformed by the love of Christ that he cannot do anything but declare the truth of Christ to others.
This year, as we focus as a Connexion on growth and evangelism, we want to be renewed in our passion and conviction to make Christ known. Like Paul, we want to declare that the love of Christ compels us.
The Rev Alan Wardlow, as he steps into the role of President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, will lead us on this journey, inviting us to rediscover the power of the Spirit at work within us, and challenging us in how we are to live out the love of Christ everyday.
The Lay Leader, Elaine Barnett will also continue to encourage the Connexion on their journey of faith and how we are to share that faith with others.
We are expectant and hope-filled for what God will do in His Church in this year ahead.
To help equip you, there are several resources available on our Living Wholeheartedly section of this website.
A prayer from Conference
God of wisdom and grace,
We are grateful for your presence that is with us.
This is your Church, and we are your people.
We surrender all to you.
May the love of Christ captivate us.
And may your Spirit stir and compel us,
That we may be:
Compelled to love,
Compelled to speak,
Compelled and restless to make you known.
In the name of Christ and the power of the Spirit,
Amen.
Conference Sunday
All churches were invited to lead a Conference Sunday worship service on Sunday 8th June.
The Conference Sunday Service Resources are available to download below. These will enable you to craft a service suitable for your church or group that will help all to engage with this year’s Connexional theme.
Conference 2025 Highlights
CoMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
The Report and proposals from the Working Group on Comprehensive Assessment and Reserves was brought to Conference on Saturday morning.
In this video from the Secretary of Conference, the Rev Dr Heather Morris helps explain what Comprehensive Assessment is and how it is used.
Originally shared in December 2024.
PRESIDENT 2025-26
Rev Alan Wardlow
lay leader 2024-26
Mrs Elaine Barnett
Location
thomas street methodist church
33 Thomas St, Portadown, BT62 3NU
