2011 Annual Conference

The Annual Conference of 2011 was held at the Fulwood Free Methodist Church on 6th and 7th May.

Many people gathered for the Friday evening Celebration Service which included several ordinations this year.  Worship was led by the Fulwood band and a DVD was shown which was a compilation of clips of testimonies and outreach work around the different churches (see front page of this website to view the video).

 The message, given by Bishop David Roller, was intriguingly entitled "Talk like an Egyptian".  To listen to this message, please click this link and scroll down the page.                               

Right - Pictured from left: Ordinands Nick Serb, Raul Arana (wife Abi) (Esther Scholes) Richard Scholes and Jim Wilkinson

The highlight of the evening was the four ordinations, plus the transfer into the FM Movement of an ordained pastor (Rev Mervyn Bassett from the New Zealand Christian Churches denomination).  Fourteen pastors and church delegates had flown in during the afternoon from Northern Ireland especially for the occasion; two of these gentlemen were among the ordinands.  It was a special moment as Bishop Roller commissioned each one and the elders of the Free Methodist Church gathered round to lay hands on and pray for these new pastors.  How we praise God for these godly men!!

Above: Bishop David Roller with the UK National Leadership Team - Allan Ellershaw, John Townley and David Carr.

Saturday commenced with the Business Session of the Annual Conference, during which time tributes were given to those who had gained eternal rest with their Saviour in the last 12 months - namely Rev Ron Milligan and Rev Ron Taylor.  Conference also accepted two Ministerial Candidates into its ranks, and we heard testimony of their conversion and calling from both Ian Clarkson (assistant pastor at Fulwood) and Bob Hardman (pastor of the Hayle, Cornwall, congregation.)

A proposal was put forward and accepted by Conference, for a Task Group to carry out a survey amongst members of Conference,  in order to discover the preferred nature and composition of leadership to carry the Movement from 2012 to 2016. 

After a coffee break delegates were joined by many other Free Methodists to hear evangelistic teaching from Bishop Roller on the subject of 'Learning a New Language'.  Two seminars before lunch were each followed by breakout groups which discussed questions posed by the Bishop.  (Seminar teaching can be accessed by following this link and scrolling down the page.)  Feedback from several of the breakout groups provoked further thought and summary.   (Questions and feedback can be found here.)

Lunch was a welcome break for everyone to feed the 'outer man' before coming together for the final session which again was followed by discussion and feedback. 

Conference closed at 3 pm but many delegates and guests stayed around for further chats over coffee and cups of tea before making their way home.

Next year's Annual Conference dates have been fixed for Friday 25th and Saturday 26th May at Fulwood.