St John’s College/Durham University News
David Wilkinson (Principal of St John’s College) said, “The Wesley Study Centre is a remarkable place, as this report demonstrates. Imaginative and cutting edge and yet the most embedded into a world class University of any Methodist institution.” Complete Press release
8 September 2011–9 September 2011
Over 140 people gathered at St John’s College, Durham University for ‘Making Connections’ Exploring Diaconal Ministry, a major international ecumenical conference held in September. The conference brought speakers and guests together from various denominations to explore the renewed interest in diaconal ministry and its potential contribution to the wider church and society.
The event included a presentation and discussion of emerging findings from a two-year research project exploring Good Practice in Diaconal Ministry in the Methodist Church of Great Britain, led by Dr Andrew Orton of Durham University and funded by the Methodist Church of Great Britain. Leading experts, including Dr Paula Gooder and the Rev Dr Maurice Staton addressed the conference on themes such as the historical, biblical, denominational and contemporary understanding of diaconal ministry.
Former Vice-President of the Methodist Conference Deacon Eunice Attwood spoke about understandings of diaconal ministry in a Connexional Church, and the Rev Canon Professor Paul Avis explored the reconstruction of the diaconate within ecumenical dialogue. Dr John N Collins gave a public lecture as part of the conference on ‘The Ties that Bind: Deacons Today in the Light of Yesteryear’, which addressed the diversity of deacons’ roles across the ecumenical spectrum.
Conference Recordings available to download:
Paula Gooder Keynote Address – Than Nature of Diakonia and how it Relates to the Role of a Deacon.
Maurice Station Keynote Address – The Development of Diaconal Ministry in Methodism
Paul Avis Keynote Address – The Reconstruction of the Diaconate and Ecumenical Dialogue
Eunice Attwood Keynote Address – Developing Deacons
Andrew Orton – Introduction to Part 3: Contemporary Diaconal Practice – Learning and Dilemmas
Deacon Eunice Attwood former Vice President of Conferece has written about her journey as Vice President of the Methodist Conference. Reflections on Vice-Presidential Year
The Principal will be doing ‘Thought for the Day’ on Radio 4’s Today programme on three Mondays 5/19/26 September at around 7.45 am.
