Rev David Bush recently travelled to Germany to attend a meeting of the steering committee for the WMC. He reports on the meeting and the ‘new normal’ experience of travelling internationally.

Would I come home with Covid? This was the unspoken question. I was travelling to Stuttgart, Germany for the Annual Steering Committee meeting of the World Methodist Council. In person rather than the two nights online from 10.30pm to 2.30am in both 2020 and 2021. 

The Steering Committee is comprised of 22 people who gather from every part of the world to work with the General Secretary of the Council to help guide or steer the work of the World Methodist Council. 

This year key agenda items included planning for the World Methodist Conference, to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden in August 2024, awarding the World Methodist Peace Prize, and implementing changes to the way Council Standing Committees will operate in the future.

I am one of two members from the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Rev Tony Franklin-Ross is chair of the Ecumenical Relationships Committee and I am an Officer representing the Pacific Region. My role was to prepare and present the report on implementing ‘New ways of working for the Council.’ Rev Franklin-Ross reported on the resumption of International Dialogues with the Anglican Communion and Roman Catholic Churches.

The Methodist Peace Award recipient is Rev W P Ebenezer Joseph of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka. The nominees for this award are expected “to show Courage, Creativity, and Consistency in working for Peace and Justice”. Over many years, in a highly complex and fragile political situation, Rev Ebenezer has had to find imaginative ways to build peace. He has sought to create unlikely alliances and to build relationships across formerly conflicted divides.

Although it is almost two years before the World Methodist Conference gathers from 13 – 18 August 2024, those thinking of attending should start putting aside a few dollars every week to cover the costs of travel and attendance. The Conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Preliminary details can be seen at http://worldmethodistconference.com 

It was great being able to meet in person enabling debate and rich conversation in deliberation on important changes. It was also good that the work of the Steering Committee continued online when travel was not possible.

The travel experience was very much like pre-Covid travel.  Proof of vaccination was required to leave New Zealand, to give assurance of a simple return. Being able to complete immigration documentation online for each country visited was a big improvement. The mandates on wearing masks varied, from compulsory on German and Singaporean public transport to non-existent in Switzerland.

The German response to climate change was obvious. There was a NZ 40c refundable deposit on plastic bottles and 13c on glass bottles. Empty plastic bottles fed into a crusher at supermarkets generated a credit note. This has become a source of income for some who diligently search rubbish bins. There was an impressive number of buildings with the whole roof covered with solar panels. The availability of a €9 ($15) monthly ticket for 2nd class travel on all public transport - except fast inter-city trains - was marvellous. City centres prioritised pedestrians: exclusive zones for foot traffic and restrictions on vehicles made for easy and safer navigation.

As always, there were surprises. In Germany finding all shops, apart from cafes and restaurants, closed on Sundays was unexpected as was the difficulty in finding public toilets and then having to pay €1 ($1.60) to gain access.

Covid is still present everywhere although normal life is resuming. And regarding my concern over coming home with Covid, I am pleased to report that my day one and day six RATs were negative.