MEOR Director Speaks at International Conference on Church Law and the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

MEOR Director Speaks at International Conference on Church Law and the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

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CHICHESTER, UK – The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, was in Chichester, United Kingdom, from 20-22 June 2025 for a conference on ecclesiastical law, entitled “Nicaea Received: 1700 years of Canons, Councils and Ecumenism.” The conference, organized by the Ecclesiastical Law Society, brought together church lawyers, experts in ecclesiastical law, and senior church leaders to discuss the importance of the Council of Nicaea, particularly the 20 canons (or laws) created by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, to the churches today and to the pursuit of Christian unity. The conference assembled a wide range of participants from Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Orthodox, and Reformed churches.

Director Laferty spoke an ecumenical panel about the relevance of the Nicene Creed for Methodist churches today, particularly as a doctrinal standard in Methodist church law. In addition to Rev. Laferty, the panel also included the Most Rev. Bernhard Longley, Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, H.E. Archbishop Nikitas Lulias, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Prof. Anna Tronet, a canonist from the Church of Sweden, and the Ven. Moira Astin, bishop-designate of Crediton in the Church of England.

Plenary speakers for the conference were His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Prof. Dr. Myriam Wijlens, Catholic canonist-theologian, and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Christopher Cocksworth, dean of Windsor.

MEOR Welcomes Student Group from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta

MEOR Welcomes Student Group from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta

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ROME – The Methodist Ecumenical Office welcomed a group of students from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 26-27 May 2025. Candler School of Theology is a seminary of The United Methodist Church.

The students were in Italy’s Tuscany region and later the City of Rome, studying the intersection of food, migration, and religion. As part of the program, the students sought to understand the ecumenical dimensions of the topic and the role of dialogue and encounter for fostering a shared witness of Christian faith and joint action for peace and justice. The group spent 10 days in Tuscany exploring the topic prior to their two-day program in Rome.

The students come from a variety of Christian communions – Methodist, Reformed, Baptist, and Catholic.

MEOR organized several meetings and site visits in Rome for the Candler students, including:

  • the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, where they were briefed by Fr. Martin Browne OSB, official responsible for relations with Methodists, on the Catholic Church’s ecumenical engagement, Methodist-Catholic dialogue, and history of the Catholic Church in the international ecumenical movement,
  • the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, where leaders of FCEI’s program “Mediterranean Hope” discussed its various projects with migrants and refugees,
  • Methodist clergy serving in Rome – Rev. Mirella Mannochio, Rev. Eliad Santos, and Rev. Sarah Mae Gabuyo,
  • the Sant’Egidio Community, and
  • the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, based at St. Paul’s Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome.

Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office, accompanied the group during their stay in Rome.

The group was led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer R. Ayres, L. Bevel Jones III Professor of Religious Education and Director of the Religious Education Program at Candler School of Theology, and Rev. Dr. Arun Jones, Dan and Lillian Hankey Associate Professor of World Evangelism at Candler School of Theology and Director of the World Methodist Evangelism Institute.

The program was organized by the Candler School of Theology and the World Methodist Evangelism Institute with the cooperation of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome.

MEOR Director with World Methodist Council Leaders Meet Pope Leo XIV

MEOR Director with World Methodist Council Leaders Meet Pope Leo XIV

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The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, met Pope Leo XIV, along with leaders from the World Methodist Council, on Monday, 19 May 2025. A special private audience was granted to ecumenical and interreligious guests who attended the Pope’s inauguration in official delegations. Also in attendance from the World Methodist Council were WMC president Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett, general secretary Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, and vice president Mr. Joshua Rathnam.

Director Laferty was encouraged by Pope Leo XIV’s clear statement on Christian unity. Pope Leo said, “as Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The Roman pontiff further said, “…our communion is realised to the extent that we meet in the Lord Jesus Christ. The more faithful and obedient we are to him, the more united we are among ourselves. We Christians, then, are all called to pray and work together to reach this goal, step by step, which is and remains the work of the Holy Spirit.” Read the full remarks.

Photo by Vatican Media.

Methodists to Attend Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

Methodists to Attend Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

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ROME (MEOR) – An international delegation from the World Methodist Council will attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, 18 May, in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City State. The Methodist leaders will join international delegations from other Christian World Communions, along with interreligious delegations and government and civic leaders, in partaking in the historic inauguration of the first U.S.-born Roman pontiff.

Pope Leo XIV was elected the Bishop of Rome on Thursday, 8 May 2025, after voting by the Conclave of the Catholic Church over two days.

The Papal Inauguration is the Pope’s investiture service in the context of a Eucharistic celebration in which the Pope will publicly receive symbols of his office, including the Fisherman’s Ring and pallum.

The delegation from the World Methodist Council will be led by Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett, president of the World Methodist Council and head of communion. She will be joined by WMC general secretary Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto and WMC vice president Mr. Joshua Rathnam Chinthila, along with Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome.

Bishop Wallace-Padgett, speaking about attending the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, said, “it is an honor to witness the inauguration of Pope Leo. As a United Methodist Bishop and President of the World Methodist Council, I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this moment with our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers. The invitation to represent the World Methodist Council at this historic event is a visible reminder of our shared call to serve Christ in the world, to seek unity in the Body of Christ, and to embody God’s love across denominational lines. I offer my prayers for Pope Leo’s service, ministry, and leadership to the church and world.”

Congratulations to the New Bishop of Rome

Congratulations to the New Bishop of Rome

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The Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his recent election as the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Director Matthew A. Laferty was in St. Peter’s Square was his election was announced. Following the announcement, Director Laferty said, “I give thanks to God for Pope Leo and pray that God will richly bless his ministry. The people called Methodist look forward to continuing our close friendship and enduring relationship with the Catholic Church as we walk and pray together as siblings in Christ.”

Photo by Vatican Media