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FREEMETHODISTWORLDCONFERENCE

ATBUJUMBURA,AFRICA

AUGUST1012,2011

AREPORT:HopeAfricaUniversityinBujumbura,thecapitalcityof

BurundiincentralAfrica,servedastheperfectvenueforthe3rdWorld

ConferenceoftheFreeMethodistChurchthatwasheldinAugust10

12,2011.

ThePresidentofBurundi,PierreNkurunziza,hadbeeninvitedasthe

chiefguesttotheinauguralsession.Thepurple-robedBurundianchoir

sangexceedinglywelltotheirheartscontentwithtraditionaldancers

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displayingtheirbest

rhythmicstepseverinhonor

ofthepresidentwhilethe

chimesofthecymbalsandthebeatingofdrums

reachedtheircrescendoto

accordaredcarpetwelcome

tothepresident.

ThePresidentwasofficially

greetedbyhostBishopElie

BuconyoriandtheExecutiveCommitteeoftheWorldConferenceon

arrival.

PresidentKarinzizainhisinauguraladdressappreciatedtheleadership

ofBurundiFreeMethodistChurch,especiallyinestablishingpeacein

thecountryduringthecivilwarof1993.Headmiredthecontributions

ofHopeAfricaUniversityindevelopingtheyouthofthenation.

Theroaringshoutofcheersandahugeapplauseoftheaudiencerent

theairwhenthe

presidentrevealedthat

hiswifeisstudying

theologyatHopeAfrica

University,auniversity

oftheFreeMethodistChurch.Hecalledupon

thegloballeadershipof

thechurchtohelpin

whateverwaypossibleforthebuildingupofthenation.

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Thethemeofthe3rdWorldConferencewasUNITEDTOBRINGTHE

WORLDTOCHRIST.ThespeakerswhoministeredthewordofGod

wereBishopIldoDeMelloofBrazil,BishopDavidKendalofU.S.A.,

BishopMattThomasofU.S.A.,BishopKeithElfordofCanadaandBishopJoabLoharaofIndia.Theseweredeepinsights,timesof

challengesandencouragement.

Everydayhad4sessionsandeachsessionwasledbyaleader.The

businesssessionswerechairedbythepresidentoftheWorld

ConferenceBishopJimTuanofThePhilippines.

ThepresidenthadagavelandapadbeforehimliketheChiefJusticeinacourtoflaw.Hehitthegavel3timesatthebeginningofthefirst

businesssessiontodeclaretheThirdWorldConferenceopen.Hewas

assistedbytheVicePresidentBishopElieBucoynoriandthe

Secretary/treasurerMrs.BeckySawyer.

Fora150-yearolddenomination,itsoundedrathertoosmallto

announcethatBujumburaconferencewasonlythe3rdWorld

Conference.Previously,theFreeMethodistChurchhadtwo

internationallyunifyingbodies-theWorldFellowshipandthe

ConstitutionalCouncil.Itwasin1999,whentheWorldFellowshipmet

inAnderson,U.S.A.,thatthesetwobodiesweremergedtoformthe

FreeMethodistWorldConference.

Sincethen,theWorldConferencewithitsrepresentativesfrom5

continentshasbeenmeetingonceevery4yearsforfellowship,prayer,

churchbusinessandstrategy.

OneoftherefreshingtimesoftheconferencewaswhentheBishopsof

differentcountriesreportedofGodswonderfulworkintheir

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respectiveregions.Awesomestoriesoftransformedlives,significant

churchgrowthandthedevelopmentofcommunitiesaroundtheworld

wereatestimonytothemiraculouspowerofGodmanifestedinthis

age.

EveryBishopwasgiven20minutes.Abellringerwasofficially

appointedbythepresidenttokeepastrictvigilontheviolationoftime.

Culturalactivitieswereapartofthisworldevent.Severaltribesof

peoplefromvariouspartsofBurunditravelledtoBujumburatoexhibit

theircultureanddevotionthroughsinginganddancing.Theyall

sportedcolorful,traditionalcostumesandhead-gearaswell.

ThethirddayoftheconferencewitnessedtheelectionoftheExecutive

CommitteeoftheWorldConference.Thefollowingmemberswere

electedforthenextquadrennial(20112015):

President:BishopElieBuconyoriofBurundi

VicePresident:BishopJoabLoharaofIndia

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Secretary/Treasurer:BryanBlankenshipofU.S.A.

FormerPresident:BishopKeithElfordofCanada

ExecutiveMember:SandraAparecidaRodriguesMistroofBrazil

ExecutiveMember:BerylKumaloofSouthAfrica

TheSwearinginceremonyforthenewlyelectedExecutiveCommittee

washeldonthenextdayandtheoathwasadministeredbythe

PresidentinchairBishopJimTuan.

ElectionswerealsoheldfortheExecutiveCommitteeoftheCouncilof

Bishops.Thefollowingmemberswereelectedforthenextquadrennial

(20112015):

President:BishopIldoDeMelloofBrazil

VicePresident:BishopDavidKendallofU.S.A.

Secretary:BishopNixonDingiliofKenya

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Thepre-lunchsession

onAugust12wasthe

concludingsession

whenBishopKeithElforddrewthe

attentionofthe

memberstoJesus

prayerinJohn17for

thosewhowouldbelievethroughthemessagetheywouldhearfrom

Hisdisciples.HechallengedthememberstoreflectthelifeofChrist

thoughtheirlivesaswellastheirwordssothattheworldwillseeHimwherevertheygo.

Theconferenceendedwithacommunionservice.Thelayandthe

ministerialdelegatesofeachcountrygatheredaroundtheirbishopsto

takepartinthecommunionandtoprayforthem.

ThebenedictionwaspronouncedbyPresidentJimTuan.Afterthishe

handedoverthehammerandthebelltothenewpresidentasthe

symbolofpassingontheresponsibilityoftheWorldconference.

WeareverythankfultoBishopElieBucoynoriandthechurchin

Burundiforbeingthegeneroushost.Theyhaveofferedlavish,

BurundianhospitalityandexcellentcoordinationtomaketheWorld

Conferencememorable.

ToGodbetheGlory!