News – Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome

World Methodist Council to Meet – August 2026

August 11, 2026August 14, 2026meorome

The World Methodist Council will be in San Salvador, El Salvador, from 13-17 August 2026. The Council is comprised of 80 member churches (denominations) from the Methodist, Wesleyan, and related United churches around the world. The Council is being hosted by the Methodist Church in El Salvador and will gather for a time of fellowship, shared learning, and governance.

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and representative of the World Methodist Council to the Holy See, will attend the meeting to report about the ministry of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome. He is also a delegate of The United Methodist Church (USA) and participates in the governance of the Council and its various ministries.

Public Conversation with Archbishop Shane Mackinlay – June 2026

June 26, 2026meorome

The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and the Caravita Community held a public conversation with Archbishop Shane Mackinlay of Brisbane on 25 June 2026. Over 30 people attended the public conversation which focused on “Ecumenical Relations on the Journey of Synodality.” Abp. Shane is the Catholic co-chair of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, the official dialogue commission between the World Methodist Council and the Catholic Church. He was also a participant in the 2023 and 2024 plenary sessions of the Synod on Synodality of the Catholic Church. During his remarks, Abp. Shane wove together his experiences of Methodist-Catholic dialogue and the Synod on Synodality to reflect on the Catholic Church’s efforts to be a more synodal church, the role of bilateral dialogue between Methodists and Catholics in synodality, and the centrality of ecumenism in the church.

The event was held at Via XX Settembre Methodist Church in Rome.

Wesley Seminary Students Visit MEOR – June 2026

June 26, 2026June 26, 2026meorome

Students from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. met the Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and the WMC representative to the Holy See, on Thursday, 25 June 2026. He shared with them about MEOR’s ministries, 21st century ecumenism, Methodist-Catholic international dialogue, and intra-Methodist relations.

He also accompanied them during their visit to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Rev. Laferty Gives Overview of “God in Christ Reconciling”

June 26, 2026July 8, 2026meorome

The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, offered an overview of “God in Christ Reconciling: On the Way to Full Communion in Faith, Sacraments, and Mission,” the 11th report from the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, to the 2026 Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain. The video was aired on 26 June 2026 for the Conference’s the Presbyterial Session.

MEOR Director Address European Episcopal Gathering – June 2026

June 25, 2026August 14, 2026meorome

The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe invited the Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and representative of the World Methodist Council to the Holy See, on 25 June 2026 to address their clergy who are on retreat in Rome. During his remarks, Director Laferty shared about MEOR’s ministry, his perspectives on the pending full communion agreement between The United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church, and international Methodist-Anglican dialogue.

Photos by J. Denson/CECE