On 23-24 October, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), met the leadership of the Methodist Church of Mexico, as part of an internal process of discernment that might lead to resuming their membership in the WCC, suspended since 1994.
The World Council of Churches is an ecumenical partner supported by the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund apportionment, which enables United Methodists to share a presence and a voice in the activities of several national and worldwide ecumenical organizations.
In Monterrey, Tveit met with the Council of Bishops and with the General Cabinet of Methodist Church of Mexico. In 2018, the church's General Conference took the decision to start a process of dialogue with the WCC in order to update its leadership about the current life and work of the WCC and better equip its delegates for a formal decision on the matter in the 2022 General Conference.
"It has been an enriching experience and a good opportunity to directly update the leadership of the Methodist Church in Mexico about how the WCC is working today and also to be available for clarification of specific issues", said Tveit, who used the opportunity to share information about the theme of the 11th Assembly of the WCC, to be held in 2021, in Karlsruhe, Germany: "Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity".
As the process of dialogue continues and the Methodist Church of Mexico and WCC have agreed upon a plan to move forward in a constructive way, Tveit underlined: "The Mexican Methodists are most welcome to be part of the fellowship again, as a founding member and the only member church in Mexico".
The Methodist Church of Mexico is present in most of the Mexican territory, with strong work in assisting refugees, migrants and the poor.
The WCC general secretary was accompanied by Rev. Edgar Avitia, from the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church USA, and Dr Marcelo Schneider, WCC staff member.
World Council of Churches website
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund enables United Methodists to share a presence and a voice in the activities of several national and worldwide ecumenical organizations. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
