Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome

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 the following meetings:

• Visit to the Waldensian School of Theology in Rome which trains ministers for the Methodist-Waldensian Church in Italy. We met Rev Dr Eric Noffke who is a New Testament scholar and represents the theological school to the Methodist Theological Schools in Europe network.
• Briefing by Rev Luca Baratto from the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy about their work and the presence of Protestant churches in Italy
• Tour of the Historical Archives of St. Peter’s Basilica where the group saw both historical records and artifacts from the Basilica, including a letter written by Michaelangelo and the pieces of the former ciborium above Peter’s tomb
• Briefing and exchanging by Bishop Paul Tighe and officials from the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education about Catholic education and educational networks
• Tour of the Vatican Library and meeting with Bishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani, the Librarian and Archivist of the Roman Catholic Church
• Briefing by Fr Martin Browne OSB, Vatican official for Methodist relations at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, about Methodist-Catholic international relations

Rev. Bergquist also preached at Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church in Rome on 3 September.

Additionally, the delegation greeted Pope Francis on 6 September following the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Read news coverage of the visit:

• Visits from Representatives of the World Methodist Council to DPCU from the Vatican ecumenical department
• Pope delighted with John Wesley bobblehead from the United Methodist News Service

Above photo copyright © Vatican Media

The Reverend Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, and the Reverend Dr. Jong Chun Park, president of the World Methodist Council, were among the 260 invited participants of the Sant’Egidio International Peace Meeting in Berlin. The meeting took place from 10-12 September under the theme ‘Audacity of Peace.’ During the meeting, Chancellor Olaf Scholz briefed the invited participants about the German government’s policy on peace and war in Europe with a special emphasis on the war in Ukraine. The closing ceremony took place in Pariser Platz in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate.

The Taize Community in partnership with the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome and 50 Christian communions, movements, and organizations are organizing a special weekend of prayer, learning, and service.

Young people aged 18 to 35 from different European countries and from all Christian traditions are invited to come to Rome from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon for a weekend of sharing. They will be hosted by the parishes and communities of Rome and stay with local people.

At the heart of this weekend of sharing will be an ecumenical prayer vigil in Rome on 30 September 2023, in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of various churches. Open to all the People of God, this prayer together will include listening to the Word of God, praise and intercession, Taizé songs and silence – a strong sign of fellowship, unity and peace.

Who can take part in the gathering?
The Saturday prayer vigil is open to everyone. Young adults from 18 to 35 can come to Rome from Friday evening to Sunday. They will be hosted by parishes and Christian communities of the city.

What will be the program for young people?

• Arrival on Friday
  Young adults taking part in the whole weekend should arrive on Friday 29/09 afternoon. They will be assigned to a host parish which will offer them hospitality.
• Saturday morning
  Saturday 30/09 morning will start with a programme split up into different “pathways” with meetings in different parts of Rome.
• Workshops & round-tables
  Participants will take part in workshops and round-tables on different themes in churches of different denominations and other places.
• Praise and worship
  A highlight of the weekend for young adults will be a time of praise and worship in an iconic location in the centre of Rome at the beginning of the afternoon on Saturday.
• Prayer vigil
  This ecumenical prayer vigil open to everyone will take place on St Peter’s Square in Rome on the Saturday evening. Pope Francis and representatives of different Churches will participate.

Visit the event website for more information and register for the event – together2023.net

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isa 52:7)

Context and background

In alignment with the spirit of the Tozanso process and Glion consultation, Methodist churches worldwide have maintained a steadfast commitment to fostering peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. During the 21st World Methodist Conference on September 1, 2016, representatives from the KMC, UMC, and WMC convened to reaffirm their dedication and collaboratively address the ongoing conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The second session of the Roundtable coincided with the launch of GBGM’s Asia regional office in Seoul on March 25, 2017. This gathering reiterated the significance of peacebuilding on the Korean Peninsula and humanitarian cooperation, both integral facets of the church mission’s objectives. The third Roundtable was convened by the UMC-GBGM in Atlanta on November 9-11, 2018. Its primary focus was to enhance the Methodist church’s role as a mediator concerning the normalization of DPRK‐USA relations and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This responsibility was undertaken in conjunction with the church’s enduring advocacy for global denuclearization, as articulated in the Atlanta Statement.

The fourth KMC-UMC-WMC Roundtable, hosted by the KMC on August 28-29, 2023, focused on enhancing the Methodist church’s contribution to the peacebuilding process in the region. Given that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice agreement, the Roundtable also reemphasized the importance of dialogue, diplomatic engagement, and peaceful process, supporting the global Korea Peace Appeal, promoted by the churches in Korea and the Korea Peace Action, co-convened by UMC-GBGM-KMC-GBM along with numerous civil organizations.

In accordance with the 88 Declaration, in prayer, we recognize the presence of hatred, division, and the lingering Korean War as violations against our Lord Jesus Christ’s New Commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Through our prayers, we humbly ask God to empower us with the courage to testify to the vision of a bountiful life for all within the new heaven and earth, where the essence of shalom prevails. Moreover, we understand our divine calling to engage in the ministry of reconciliation, a manifestation of Christ’s boundless love (2 Cor 5:14), and thus, as Christians, we are tasked to serve as ambassadors of reconciliation in Christ.

We, therefore, commit ourselves to:

Calls to action

Pray with the churches of Korea on the Sunday before August 15, observed as the “Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification on the Korean Peninsula.”

Urge Methodist churches worldwide and ecumenical partners to offer their advocacy, support and solidarity for Korean churches and Korean diaspora in their pursuit of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and relationships.

Encourage the KMC-UMC-WMC to foster young people and women leadership who can work for peace, promote disarmament, and denounce militarization, ensuring that young people and women have an equal and meaningful role in the peace process.

Recommend the Methodist churches worldwide to organize peace pilgrimages, jointly coordinated by the KMC-UMC-WMC, serving as both peacemakers and bridge builders. This group affirms the 22nd WMC in Gothenburg, Sweden, from August 13 to 18, 2024 as a space  for further engagement for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Invite Methodist churches worldwide to engage in international cooperation to improve the quality of human rights and seek to provide humanitarian aid in the DPRK.

Adopted by consensus