July 2, 2024
All We Can are thrilled to be in Leeds as part of the annual Methodist Conference.
Methodist Conference Vice-President and President 23-24: Deacon Kerry Scarlett and Rev Gill Newton
As the Methodist Relief and Development Fund, this is a vital time for us to connect with supporters, update the Methodist Church about our work, and listen to what is happening across the Connexion. Connecting with those across the Church is important because our relationship with the Methodist Church is of immense value for us at All We Can.
We also like to have a little fun at our marketplace stall. This year, we have been inviting people into an excavation experience where they dig for treasure. This is because we believe there is already God-given potential and treasure in the communities that we work with – we don’t have to provide it, it’s already there! In the words of Jeremiah Burgess – the director of our local partner in Liberia, SHIFSD – that means our role in international development is to ‘wipe off the clay so the gold inside can shine’. In the experience of digging for treasure, people have discovered that when we use heavy tools too quickly we can damage the treasure inside, that different tools are required in different contexts, and that unearthing treasure is a long process. Current and former Presidents of Conference, ordinands, and Conference Representatives have all picked up hammers, chisels, and brushes to find their treasure!
Every three years, All We Can is also invited to present a report to conference. This year, Angela – our interim CEO – presented, articulating the importance of consistent funding and long-term partnership, saying ‘we are not a top hat funder’ (accompanied by the tossing of top hats into the audience!). The report, and the receipt of it by Conference Representatives, is an important part of our good relating with the wider life of the church body. The goodwill towards All We Can was felt in the myriad of positive verbal responses the report received and with an increased attendance and interaction at the stall. We are definitely ‘playing on home ground!’
Check out the All We Can report from the 2024 Conference Live Stream (jump to 3:39:16):
