Mexican Methodism renews mission commitment at General Conference

The 25th General Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico, A.R. (IMMAR) convened with delegates from the six annual conferences of the “La Iglesia Methodista Unida” (IMU) and ecumenical organizations such as the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL). The conference aimed to review internal legislation, assess the church’s current state, receive national reports, elect new authorities and institutions, and set operational priorities for the upcoming quadrennium.

The meeting took place over eight days of plenary sessions and commissions, during which delegates from both the IMU and IMMAR engaged in discussions on shared theological and practical concerns. The IMU, which operates under the United Methodist Church (UMC) umbrella, and IMMAR, the Mexican Methodist Church, have maintained a concordat since 1039, as defined in their constitutional texts. This agreement outlines the terms of mutual Episcopal visitation and the exchange of delegates with voting rights in each church’s general conferences.

The UMC’s Book of Discipline, specifically Chapter Two, Paragraph 14 (Article V), states that the UMC can hold a concordat with any autonomous Methodist church that agrees to stipulate mutual Episcopal visitation and the exchange of delegates with the right to vote in their respective legislative bodies. The exact numerical assignments for delegates, such as two with direct voting rights for IMMAR, are determined by the parliamentary rules of the concordat.

Similarly, the IMMAR’s First Section of Constitutional Foundations, Article 11, establishes that the connection between IMMAR and the UMC is governed by a mutually agreed and periodically updated concordat. The IMMAR Discipline also clarifies that delegates accredited under this international status are recognized as official members of the General Conference, with full rights to voice and vote on ecclesiastical and connectional matters.

The conference emphasized the importance of mission and service, reflecting a shared commitment to global outreach and community engagement. Delegates from both denominations and ecumenical partners discussed strategies to strengthen church unity, enhance mission work, and address contemporary challenges facing the Methodist tradition in Mexico and beyond.

The proceedings underscored the collaborative spirit between the IMU and IMMAR, highlighting their shared heritage and mutual respect. As the churches navigate theological and administrative matters, their continued partnership serves as a testament to the enduring nature of their concordat and the shared vision of mission and ministry.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)