We give thanks to God for the ministry of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome during the 2023-2024 program year. The program year runs from 1 September 2023 through 31 August 2024.
Read our ‘Year in Review’ report to learn more about MEOR and its ministry in Rome.
Table of Contents
- Who We Are
- What We Do
- Our Goverance
- Our Director
- Highlights from the Past Program Year
- Get Involved
- Give to MEOR
Who We Are
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome is the presence of the World Methodist Council in Rome. MEOR’s mission is advanced by a partnership of Methodist churches and Methodist councils of churches who provide resources and ministry oversight. With the World Methodist Council, MEOR is supported by the Methodist Church Britain, the European Methodist Council, the Methodist Churches in Italy (OPCEMI), and The United Methodist Church.
What We Do
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome is the presence of the World Methodist Council in Rome, aiming:
- to be a channel of dialogue with other churches in the search for a deeper unity;
- to foster relationships with other agencies and faith communities in order
- to promote better understanding and joint action for justice and peace;
- to offer a ministry of prayer and reflection, of learning and growth; and
- to be a place of open hospitality to Methodists and all visitors to Rome.
To this end, MEOR engages in a wide range of activities including dialogue, educational programs, welcoming Methodist pilgrims, and networking, as well as being the voice and presence of the worldwide Methodist family in Rome. MEOR’s work is organic, adapting to the ebb and flow of relationally-driven ecumenism and the ever-changing needs of the World Methodist Council and its member churches. MEOR creates encounters between Methodists and Catholics, holds webinars, and shares Methodist theological perspectives in a number of venues. Furthermore, MEOR facilitates Methodist groups in short-term study programs in Rome and promotes Rome as a city of shared Christian heritage.
Additionally, MEOR supports the dialogue work of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, the official theological dialogue commission between the World Methodist Council and the Holy See. In 2022, the commission’s report – God in Christ Reconciling: On the Way to Full Communion in Faith, Sacraments, and Mission – was published and MEOR is assisting Methodists around the world in receiving the report.
Our Governance
MEOR’s oversight committee – The Forum – supervises and enables the work of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome. Each institutional partner is entitled to two representatives on The Forum. Bishop Ivan Abrahams, general secretary of the World Methodist Council, and the Revd Michaela Youngson, assistant conference secretary and connexional ecumenical officer of the Methodist Church in Britain, served as co-chairs of The Forum this program year. Additional members of The Forum for 2023-2024 included the Rev. Luca Anziani (OPCEMI), the Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst (UMC), Mr Kirby Hickey (WMC), Revd Conrad Hicks (MCB), the Revd Dr Heather Morris (EMC), and Rev. Matthew A. Laferty (Director).
The Forum gives “attention to the following functions including receiving regular reports from the Director, approving an annual work plan, [and] authorising new initiatives after consultation.” Furthermore, members of The Forum commit to “promote MEOR and its activities within its organization, encourage the Methodist family to make use of MEOR when arranging tours or planning ecumenical initiatives, [and] assist the smooth running of the Office to meet the demand on its services.”
Our Director
The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty from The United Methodist Church is the director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome. Read more about Rev. Laferty.
Highlights from the Past Program Year
MEOR’s programmatic work focuses on three broad areas – 1) dialogue and education, 2) welcome and hospitality, and 3) a ministry of presence. Dialogue and education are achieved through formal dialogue, lectures, conferences, special events, and webinars. Additionally, MEOR serves to educate institutional partners, visiting groups, church leaders and officials, and the Vatican diplomatic community about the people called Methodist. Welcome and hospitality is a pillar of MEOR’s ministry in Rome. From our office in central Rome, we welcome Methodists and other Christians from around the world to learn, dialogue, and discover. MEOR’s ministry of presence is prayerful, relational, and missional, seeking to live out Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one…..so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). MEOR’s location in Rome extends important opportunities to build enduring ecumenical relationships, demonstrate visible solidarity and unity, and cultivate strategic partnerships for the worldwide Methodist family.
We share only a few highlights from the past year. During the past program year, the Director participated in over 100 public events, seminars, or conferences, organized dozens of encounters with church and diplomatic leaders in Rome, lectured on Methodism and Methodist-Catholic dialogue, and worked and prayed for Christian unity.
September 2023
Visit of Leaders from the World Methodist Historical Society and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome hosted senior leaders from the World Methodist Historical Society and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities from 3-6 September 2023. The delegation included Dr. Amos Nascimento, chairperson of the World Methodist Council Education Committee and executive secretary of the Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities, the Rev Dr Greg Bergquist, IAMSCU general officer, Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the World Methodist Historical Society, and Dr Ulrike Schuler, GBHEM LEaD Hub Europe director. WMHS and IAMSCU are programs of the World Methodist Council. MEOR arranged encounters with the Waldensian School of Theology, Vatican officials, Protestant church leaders, and Pope Francis. Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the World Methodist Historical Society, presented Pope Francis a John Wesley bobblehead.
Read more about the WMHS and IAMSCU visit.
Irish Church Leaders Visit
The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome welcomed the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) on a trip to Rome from 27-28 September 2023. The leaders were invited to Rome by the Irish Embassy to the Holy See and the British Embassy to the Holy See to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreements. The Church Leaders Group (Ireland) include the heads of the Methodist, Church of Ireland, Catholic, and Presbyterian Churches along with the president of the Irish Council of Churches. The general secretaries from each church accompanied the heads of churches on their trip to Rome. The Embassies asked MEOR director Rev. Laferty and Vatican official Fr. Martin Browne to organize an ecumenical prayer service for the church leaders, using a special liturgy created for the anniversary. The service – held at the Waldensian Church at Piazza Cavour – was a moving witness of the collegiality of the church leaders and a public demonstration of their witness of solidarity for peace and reconciliation in Ireland.
The Embassies also organized a symposium on the Good Friday Agreements, held at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. Each church leader spoke during the symposium, with special attention to the meaning of the Good Friday Agreements for today. The Director arranged for Prof. Jong Chun Park, president of the World Methodist Council, to speak on a panel during the symposium on the Methodist Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula.
‘Together’ Prayer Vigil
World Methodist Council president Rev. Prof. Jong Chun Park and Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome director Rev. Matthew A. Laferty joined Pope Francis and other senior church leaders alongside thousands of young people on Saturday, 30 September, for an ecumenical vigil of prayer in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Photo by Synod.va. Used by permission.
The initiative came from Br. Alois, head of the Taize Community, during his address to a special assembly of Catholic bishops in October 2021; the special assembly opened a two year-long Catholic global listening project under the theme of synodality.
A companion weekend program called “Together” was also organized for young people ages 18-35 to reflect on relevant themes facing church and society. The Together weekend included a series of workshops and a Christian praise and worship concert in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Rev. Park spoke at a workshop on placing the society’s vulnerable at the center of our communities. Eli Ataf from the Methodist Church in Britain was a MC for the concert in the Cathedral of John Lateran. Over 3,500 people registered for the weekend program.
MEOR reports about the ‘Together’ ecumenical vigil of prayer.
Watch a recap video about the weekend by the Methodist Church in Great Britain.
October 2023
Pope Francis called for a new Synod of Bishops on the theme of synodality, which met in Rome from 4-29 October 2023. The Director was a fraternal delegate to the opening of the Synod in October 2021, which opened a two-year worldwide listening project for the Catholic Church focusing on the themes of mission, participation, and communion. The culmination of the project was the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. The Vatican invited 12 fraternal delegates – 6 from the ‘Western’ Churches and 6 from the ‘Eastern’ Churches. As MEOR has been working with the Synod Office in various ways during the past two years, the General Secretariat wanted to honor MEOR’s work and commitment to being companions toward a synodal church by inviting the World Methodist Council to send a fraternal delegate. Revd Prof Jong Chun Park, president of the World Methodist Council, was appointed as the Methodist fraternal delegate.
During the Synod, Cardinal Grech, general secretary of the Synod, invited the Director to attend four sessions which opened each Synod thematic section; the Director was only one of a few invited to observe in-person the proceedings. Additionally, the Director was invited to join the opening and closing Mass of the Synod as well as join the procession with the Synod delegates, again as one of a few non-participants as a sign thanks and commitment by the Synod Office.
The Director supported Prof. Park’s presence at the Synod and arranged a number of external meetings for him. The Director arranged for Prof. Park to meet Ambassador Oh of Korea where Prof. Park and the Director were able to present a copy of the speeches from the latest Methodist Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula in September 2023 to the Ambassador.
Additionally, the Director hosted three program luncheons with Synod delegates. Each luncheon focused on a different constituent group including Synod delegates engaged in Methodist-Catholic dialogue, theologians advisors to the Synod, and Synod fraternal delegates. The luncheons provided opportunities for the Director to share about MEOR’s work and stress Methodist essentials in synodality.
November 2023
Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission Meets in Hybrid Format
The Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission (MERCIC), formally called the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church, held a plenary commission meeting in hybrid format from 30 October through 3 November 2023. Due to a late change in meeting location, some commission members were able to gather in Rome at the Istituto Maria Bambina near St. Peter’s Square, while others joined the proceedings online. The plenary meeting was the second session of the 12th round of the dialogue.
MEOR provides administrative and programmatic support to the commission. Rev. Laferty is the commission’s co-secretary.
Read the communique from the commission about its second plenary session.
British Dialogue Meets, Holds Symposium on International Commission Report
The dialogue commission between the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales and Scotland met 22-23 November 2023 at St. Mary’s Oscott House in Birmingham, UK, for its biannual meeting. The group met on the theme of social ethics and action in the Methodist and Catholic traditions. Rev. Laferty serves as a member of the commission on behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain. On 23 November 2023, a special symposium was organized by the commission on the latest report from the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission – God in Christ Reconciling: On the Way to Full Communion in Faith, Sacraments, and Mission – with speakers for each chapter of the report. Rev. Laferty was invited to give the opening lecture on the history and theological work of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission.
December 2023
The Director participated in several important events in Rome during December, including the Catholic Mass to commemorate the English and Welsh martyrs, the Catholic Mass for the 80th anniversary of the Focolare Movement with Cardinal Kevin Farrell presiding, and the celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Holy See.
Rev. Laferty attended the Christmas Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica on 24 December 2023. Pope Francis personally greeted the ecumenical guests before the vigil.
January 2024
The Director participated in or led numerous events in Rome for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18-25 January 2024), under the theme of ‘love God and love neighbor’ from Luke 10. He was a special guest at Papal Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls on 25 January. Rev. Laferty hosted an ecumenical dinner for representatives of various Christian communions in Rome following Papal Vespers on 25 January.
February 2024
On 16 February 2024, the Director lectured on Methodism for the ‘Ut Unim Sint’ diploma course at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Other engagements during February including a luncheon with leadership of Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Vespers to remember the Coptic martyrs of Libya from 2015 followed by a special film screening, meetings about the new Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office in Rome, and a special dinner with leaders of the Caravita Community.
March 2024
A group of 10 bishops from three different Methodist churches in the United States embarked on a study pilgrimage in Rome, Italy, from 5-8 March 2024. The bishops were drawn from the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and The United Methodist Church; all three churches are member churches of the World Methodist Council, the international Christian communion of Methodist, Wesleyan, and Uniting churches. The three churches underwent separation during the 19th century due to the sin of slavery and racism. Since 2012, the churches, along with 3 other Methodist churches, are in a special full communion relationship.
Read about the American Methodist bishops’ program in Rome.
April 2024
The 4th Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum – an international Christian ecumenical platform – met in Accra, Ghana, from 16-19 April 2024, under the theme “That the World May Know,” bringing together over 250 leaders from all major Christian confessional families. The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, was an invited participant.
Learn more about the 4th Global Gathering in Ghana.
May 2024
World Methodist Council Vice President Visits Rome
Ms. Gillian Kingston, vice president of the World Methodist Council, visited Rome from 21-24 May 2024, in conjunction with MEOR’s Wesley Day celebrations. A lay member of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Ms. Kingston has been vice president of the World Methodist Council, the Christian world communion of Methodist and Wesleyan churches, since 2014 and will conclude her service in August 2024.
Read more about Ms. Kingston’s trip to Rome.
Annual Garden Party
MEOR’s annual garden party to commemorate the conversions of Charles and John Wesley was held on Thursday, 23 May in the garden of Christ Church Lutheran in Rome. Ms. Kingston addressed the 50-person gathering, thanking them for their support of MEOR and sharing the theme of the upcoming World Methodist Conference – “On the Move”.
June – July 2024
The warmer months in Rome are slower in the MEOR office as our staff take vacation, plan for the next program year, and catch up on writing.
Get Involved
Get involved with the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome! Here are ten different ways to participate in MEOR’s ministry.
Pray for MEOR and for Christian unity – Commit to praying regularly for the unity of the church, the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, and the MEOR staff.
Organize a pilgrimage or study visit to Rome – MEOR is always welcoming visitors from abroad. Bring a small or large group to Rome to learn about Christian unity, early church history, or another topic. MEOR can assist in crafting a memorable itinerary.
Follow MEOR on Twitter and Facebook and visit our website – MEOR is constantly sharing stories about its work and news on social media. Follow MEOR on Twitter and Facebook and visit MEOR’s website.
Attend MEOR events – Our in-person and online events are listed under ‘Events’ on MEOR’s website.
Donate to MEOR to support new programs – Give generously to help MEOR launch new programs and initiatives.
Suggest topics for MEOR programs – Share your suggestions and ideas with us at office [at] meorome.org!
Share information about MEOR with your superintendent, presiding elder, bishop, or church president
Invite our Director to speak at an event about MEOR – Rev. Laferty is always ready to share about MEOR’s work at online or in-person events. Contact him at director [at] meorome.org.
Give to MEOR
The Methodist Church Britain acts as MEOR’s fiduciary agent and receives donations on MEOR’s behalf. Bank transfers to MEOR can be made through the ‘Methodist Church World Mission Fund’. Please see the details below. Write the MEOR office to let us know about your donation.
Methodist Church World Mission Fund
IBAN: GB26HBUK40020670951706
BIC: HBUKGB4110E
Reference for transfer: MEOR Donation
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 