Scarborough Spa Complex 3 July to 10 July 2008

Host Districts of Leeds, Sheffield, West Yorkshire and York and Hull.

The day began with us separated into five workshops – each looking at ecumenical issues, MHA, NCH, equalities & diversity and the Youth Participation Scheme. This led, following a coffee break, into a service of Holy Communion. Once again we threaded business through the worship – the autonomy of The Gambia District (the last overseas district of the British Methodist Church), which will take place on Wesley Day 24 May 2009. As part of this business we gave thanks for the Christian witness of the Methodist people in The Gambia since its origins in 1821 and delegated to the Methodist Council the authority to approve the final deeds establishing the Methodist Church The Gambia; and we also held the annual general meeting of the Methodist Missionary Society.

After a shortened lunch break (as we were behind in our business!) we heard the result of the election for next year's President and Vice-President – electing Revd David Gamble and Dr Richard Vautrey. Then we cracked on with business – we received the Equalities and Diversity report, commending the ‘Equally Different' campaign and resource for use in local churches, circuits and districts and giving thanks for all those who have pioneered and developed in the church, in recent generations, an awareness of the issues and challenges which confront a church which is becoming increasingly diverse and is wanting to eliminate discrimination, to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to act justly towards all.

We had a sensitive debate and received the report ‘Created in God's Image: An ecumenical report on contemporary challenges and principles relating to early human life.' This was produced by a working party of Methodist/URC/Baptist members and addresses the theological, ethical and social principles around decision making on issues such as Abortion, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, assisted reproductive technologies, donation and stem cell technologies – the group will bring a study guide by June 2009. Further work will also be done on abortion including the drafting of a revision of the Methodist Statement on Abortion, approved in 1976, in the light of scientific and medical developments.

We approved the Youth Participation Strategy endorsing a 5-year connexional pilot and setting up a strategy group. This all took us to tea break when we went into a Closed Session lasting an hour and a half! On resumption, Conference dealt with the report ‘Stirring up the Spark of Grace: Connexional Training Strategies' – including some new ways for training the whole people of God, support for students in Pre-Ordination training, new opportunities and challenges including an on-line resource for learning & development, resources for post-graduate theological study and funding for post-doctoral research fellowships, lay worker training and support, Local preacher & worship leader business – and finally the business of the Faith and Order Committee including a liturgy for the recognition of those authorised to preside at Lord's Supper, advice on extended communion, the new ways of working by the committee from September and the missional nature of the circuit.

The President announced some Good News – Sunday's offering for Zimbabwe via the Fund for world mission raised (including gift aid) nearly £9,000! Apparently the cost of a lorry will be about £30,000 so we've helped a long way with that (donations still welcome). A long day, and all this with no cake to sustain us! Only tomorrow to go.

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